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First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.

Down again:  State economist Arun Raha delivers his latest revenue forecast this morning and it’s down another $122 million.  Not a significant change, but it’s more bad news leaving the state to fill a budget deficit of $1.4 billion.

Raha reports Washington employment is still in the hole with construction employment stagnant, and revenues from real estate excise taxes showing no improvement.

“There’s a small glimmer of hope that the worst is behind us,” Raha says, projecting that revenues will begin climbing in the next budget cycle.  He still believes Washington’s economy will outperform the nation’s economy in a recovery, with Boeing and Microsoft both hiring again.

“We been here before in this recovery only to be sucked back,” Raha said.  His report says there are “still considerable downside risks.”

This is the last economic forecast before the legislature returns for a special session at the end of the month.  See you next February, Raha says, anticipating the next time he’ll deliver revised numbers.

Pressure mounts:  Snohomish County Republican Party chairman Bill Cooper tells KING 5 this morning that Republicans are weighing a recall campaign to remove county Executive Aaron Reardon from office in light of a state investigation into possible misuse of public funds. 

Cooper also said he believes Reardon should put himself on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a criminal investigation into his conduct.

Cooper’s statements came after a Seattle Times article outlining allegations that Reardon used county funds to engage in an affair.