The folks throwing the inaugural ball for Gov. Chris Gregoire next Wednesday say they don't want any video cameras floating around at the party, which costs $100 per ticket to attend. Said Dan Neuhauser, president of the Inaugural Ball Committee, a private non-profit group:

"I'll be candid with you. We've had some complaints in the past about reporters and cameras and microphones stuck in peoples faces when they were trying to have a good time. We just went, 'you know what, we'll give out press passes but they can't bring their cameras in.' "

Neuhauser contends that although the state Capitol is a public building "the Inaugural Ball Committee rents the building from the state for the event. We pay (them) big money for that. So it's essentially a private party."

Which means, he said, that they can keep out video cameras. Except for TVW, a nonprofit television station largely funded by the state. It's OK if they set up cameras, he said.

However, the person the committee is throwing the bash for - the governor - apparently doesn't care if people bring their camcorders. Said Pearse Edwards, the governor's spokesman:

"We think it's OK to bring in hand held cameras. We'll talk to the organizers."

The Politics Northwest blog will resume when the Legislature gets to work in Olympia.

Gov. Christine Gregoire said in an interview this afternoon that pretty much everything is being considered when it comes to dealing with a projected $3.2 billion shortfall in the next two-year budget.

Except, she said, for using proceeds from a national tobacco settlement she negotiated in 1998 as the state attorney general. The settlement brings in millions of dollars to Washington, about $120 million alone next year. The money mainly goes toward paying for health care.

Otherwise, Gregoire said she's considering dozens of options, including suspending certain state programs and possibly eliminating some entirely. She wouldn't say which ones.

In addition, the governor said, lawmakers could soon face a choice of either giving state workers a pay raise or laying people off.

"I have been honest with labor unions all the way along, in which I've said to them: 'you want pay increases. Would you really advocate that that be done at the expense of people's jobs? Because depending on whether the national economy turns or not, that may be the choice.'"

Gregoire wouldn't tip her hand about what she plans to do in her budget, which is expected to be released in mid-December.

However, she said. "We're going to take cuts where I don't want to take cuts ... I'm not going to have much alternative. It is time to sacrifice."

The governor pledged during the campaign she would not increase taxes or fees to help balance the budget. She reaffirmed that message today.

Two years ago, when the economy was still humming, Gregoire proposed a budget with large spending increases and said at the time, "I love my budget."

That won't be true this time. she said. "I have no expectations I'll love my budget. It's not going to happen."

Gov. Christine Gregoire's campaign manager, Kelly Evans, sent out a memo to the governor's campaign staff and steering committee today, outlining her thoughts on why the governor was able to win reelection by such a wide margin over Republican Dino Rossi.

While the media appeared surprised by Rossi's big defeat, it came as no shock to the Gregoire campaign, Evans wrote. The governor's lead had steadily expanded in internal tracking polls starting about three weeks before Election Day.

You can read the whole memo here.

The Broadway and Pine area of Capitol Hill also is blocked by hundreds of people celebrating in the streets, waving signs and chanting "Yes we can."

About a dozen other musicians from drummers to sax players have joined the street party, leading the crowd down First Avenue. Police had blocked off First Avenue at the corner of Seneca Street, but seeing the crowd coming, police put their cars in reverse and allowed the crowd to move on.

-- Tan Vinh, Seattle Times staff reporter

Another spontaneous street party is going on up on Capitol Hill as people leave their homes, apartments and night spots to celebrate tonight's election results.

Maria Cantwell: "Seattle has done it again. I think we'll have two new colleagues in the Senate. More important, we have a new President of the United States of America. Barack Obama showed America is ready for a new generation of leadership."

Patty Murray: "Yes we can and yes we did. What an amazing, historic evening. Ten, 20, 50 years from now you'll know where you were standing tonight when we elected Senator Barack Obama. Senator Cantwell will be able to write a new energy policy. This election night is yours."

-- Susan Gilmore, Seattle Times staff reporter