Cheers: To better meetings between elected representatives and those who often disagree with them. Two recent examples stand out. On March 24, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, sat down at a coffee shop with four members of the political group MoveOn.org, while they made their case against what they perceive to be damaging federal budget cuts and scapegoating of public employee unions. It’s unlikely the conservative congresswoman and the liberal political group will agree on many things, but afterward both said they appreciated the chance for a dialogue.

Another example occurred at Monday’s Vancouver City Council meeting, which featured the first bimonthly citizens’ forum. Both council and critics had been displeased with the council format of accepting limited comments about any topic at every meeting — which came to a head in last year’s famous “gavel down!” incident — so the city is taking a new tack. Again, it’s unlikely few minds were changed, but both councilors and citizens told The Columbian’s Andrea Damewood after the meeting that they appreciated the conversation.

Jeers: To apparent inaction by the state House in coming up with its 2011-13 biennial budget proposal. Faced with increasingly bad news, it’s almost as if majority Democrats have thrown up their hands, even as the 105-day regular session enters its final weeks. The Olympian reports the House Democrats’ budget was due out this week, but apparently closed-door wrangling has held up progress. Further delays make it more likely that any budget proposal won’t be released in time for it to receive adequate public scrutiny and comment — or even be passed without a costly special session. In contrast, the three co-chairs of Oregon’s Ways and Means Committee set aside partisan differences and hammered out a tentative budget agreement this week. Neither party likes everything about the proposal, but both sides were smart enough to realize that voters want compromise and bipartisanship, not secrecy and bickering.

Cheers: To Project Cinderella, a new effort to match high school girls with prom dresses. For several years that role had been filled by Operation Fairy Godmother, a mammoth Vancouver School District Foundation undertaking which for several reasons was canceled this year. The much smaller Cinderella project was organized by Evergreen High School students and aimed at a narrower group.

Jeers: To the ethical hazards of doing business in China. The world’s second-largest economy is alluring to many Clark County businesses seeking to get back on their feet after the recession, but there are major obstacles. Vague secrecy laws can trap unwary business people; censorship and Internet monitoring can lead to intellectual property theft; and corruption is not uncommon. An expert will address these difficulties and more in a session next week at WSU Vancouver. John Kamm, founder and chairman of the Dui Hua Foundation, a human rights group, will speak at 7 p.m. Monday in the Administration building, Room 129.

Cheers: To two popular members of the Lewis and Clark expedition, Shoshone guide Sacagawea and Lewis’ Newfoundland dog, Seaman. Both will be memorialized in bronze at Marine Park in Cascade Locks, Ore., a leafy, inviting (and historic) picnic spot frequented by Southwest Washington residents.

Jeers: To e-cigarettes. Though County Commissioner Tom Mielke recently questioned whether nicotine is addictive (it is), and these are merely another device to hook people. The county and local schools are right to pass new laws to keep them out of the hands of young people.

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