PAUL SCHRAG: WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN OLYMPIA >>>

As the state legislature returned to Olympia this past week, there was quite a cloud hanging over our poor elected officials. Currently facing a $5.7 billion budget shortfall, and hard choices about how to dole out money offered under proposed state and federal stimulus packages, legislators are no doubt scrambling to prioritize. And they’ve got plenty of help â€" lobbyists, cities, associations, education institutions, industry reps and others are becoming a mob, desperate for money, desperate for help, and desperate for influence over the people holding the purse strings.

We chatted with Rep. Dennis Flannigan, D-27th, for his take on the upcoming year. Read the story on the Weekly Volcano Web site.