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Republican legislative leaders used a post-inauguration news conference to express concern about several parts of new Gov. Jay Inslee’s inaugural speech.

Richard DeBolt, leader of the House Republicans, said he was nervous about Inslee’s support for new tax credits for clean energy programs, calling those and other Inslee priorities a case of “picking winners and losers.”

DeBolt, R-Chehalis, also criticized Inslee for mentioning support for the Reproductive Parity Act, which would require health-insurance plans that cover maternity care to also cover abortions.

“It was funny that he would take a day of unification and try to make it a politically dividing event,” DeBolt said. “I don’t like special interest politics being brought up in the State of the State address.”

DeBolt and other leaders also mentioned climate change and gun policy as additional concerns.

They also argued that Inslee was not specific enough in his first speech.

“There were a lot of nice things said today, but it (the speech) was very short on detail,” said Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “That’s unfortunate, because the details are what will drive this process through the next 103 days.”

However, the Republicans did see some things they liked. All of the leaders praised Inslee for his prioritization of jobs. And state Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, R-Wenatchee, said she appreciated that Inslee has lived in both Eastern and Western Washington.

The leaders answered questions after a videotaped official GOP response from state Rep. Kevin Parker, R-Spokane.

Parker used his speech to call for an increase in education funding without raising taxes.

The Legislature is currently facing a state Supreme Court order to increase education funding. Democrats generally want to rely partially on new taxes to do that, while Republicans generally do not. Inslee has said he doesn’t think new taxes are needed.

“Gov. Inslee has promised he will not raise taxes, and we stand shoulder to shoulder to him on that,” Parker said. “We have the resources to fund education. We don’t need to raise taxes to do it.”

Good Morning. Inauguration Wednesday.

From Brian M. Rosenthal. Nothing can galvanize a capital city quite like an inauguration, and incoming Gov. Jay Inslee’s should be no exception.

The longtime Democratic congressman will become Washington state’s 23rd governor later this morning as part of a day of ceremonies that will start with a swearing-in in the Capitol and end with a toast at the inaugural ball.

In between, Inslee is scheduled to deliver a speech to lawmakers and play basketball (yes, seriously).

The Seattle Times invites you to follow along with live coverage from our Olympia team: reporters Andrew Garber, Brian M. Rosenthal and Amelia Dickson; and photographers Ken Lambert and Erika Schultz.

You can also watch the festivities on TVW here.

Gov.-for-another-few-hours- Chris Gregoire has written a book on her time in office. Some people might want to forget about all those tough “I hate my budgets,” as Gregoire used to say. Gregoire actually wrote a book  on her difficult days in government for posterity.

Seattle City Councilmember
Bruce Harrell

In other political excitement, the mayor’s race. Tuesday, Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell joined the pack of well-known candidates running for Seattle mayor in 2013. And Councilmember Tim Burgess, one of the early entrants into the contest, grabbed his own headline by saying he was interested in landing a new police chief. If elected. As they say.

Updated to include latest development. Guns: President Obama is releasing his gun control plan right now. The president has been mulling ideas put forward by a task force led by Vice President Joe Biden and offered his own thinking today. The fact that he is proposing a ban on assault weaponsmeans he is has decided to engage a very tough fight in Congress.

The Seattle Times politics team has a new Facebook page. Please, like us or friend us.

Good morning.

Nate Silver, 50 states and the Hawks: Nate Silver, The New York Times wonder-math-nerd  who predicted the 2012 presidential election outcome in all 50 states, had what turned out to be an unfortunate prediction for Sunday’s football game. He said the Seahawks would win, but, oops, that did not come to pass.  His critics will probably mention that once or twice, don’t you think?

Gov.-elect Jay Inslee

Inaugurations, beginnings: Gov.-elect Jay Inslee becomes Gov. Jay Inslee this Wednesday, with a full round of festivities in Olympia. The inauguration is during the day; the inaugural ball is Wednesday night.

In Washington, D.C., President Obama’s inaugural balls are next Monday night. Politico reported on a little problem with one officiant for the swearing-in ceremony. The Rev. Louis Giglio was planning to perform the benediction. He changed his mind, or someone else did, last week because of anti-gay comments he made years ago.

Outgoing Gov. Chris Gregoire’s
formal portrait — and her new granddaughter.
Source: Associated Press

Inslee in, Chris Gregoire out. But her formal portrait will remain. Take a look.

Gun politics: Vice President Joe Biden is coming out with some sort of gun control proposal this week, and yes, he is using the term executive order to describe some of what might happen next.

Todd Akin redux: Another year, another round of rape comments. Rep. Phil Gingrey of Georgia causes another mild furor. And you thought the GOP was going to swear off such comments.

Our politics team has a new Facebook page. Stop by and friend us, if you can.