Ian Swanson: Today's excitement

TODAY'S main political excitement - if that's the right word - is the publication of the Scottish Government's Budget Bill for 2009/10.
It includes £232.5m of accelerated capital spending, £90m of which will be shared between Scotland's 32 local authorities.
Finance Secretary John Swinney says the package will help Scotland weather the economic storm, protect around 4700 jobs and boost propsects of a strong recovery.
Meanwhile, he promised on the radio this morning to keep talking to other parties to secure enough votes to get the package through the Scottish Parliament.
In these difficult economic times, there's probably not a lot Mr Swinney can offer in return for support. But the Tories, Greens and Margo MacDonald are open to persuasion.
Mr Swinney said yesterday the government would have to leave office if the budget is rejected - an echo of last year's threat by Alex Salmond to quit if the budget was defeated.
No doubt there is plenty scope for bargaining and brinkmanship before MSPs finally vote on the latest package - but at the moment the resignation of the government must look unlikely.