Legislators bemoan an underwhelming session
April 23, 2008
By Jon Savelle
For this district’s three state legislators, all Republicans, the recently concluded legislative session was a study in frustration.
The overwhelming Democratic majorities in both houses, and Democrat Gov. Chris Gregoire, made it clear at the start that it would be essentially a placeholder effort, with no bold initiatives that might ricochet in November with losses at the polls.
The Democrats promised little, and they delivered it. The key measures passed require reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases, expand the rights of same-sex couples and ban toys containing certain chemicals.
That grates on 5th District Sen. Cheryl Pflug, of Maple Valley, as it does on Reps. Glenn Anderson, of Fall City, and Jay Rodne, of North Bend. In interviews after the close of the session, they all took the Democrats to task for “punting” on difficult issues, like transportation, education and healthcare, while also ignoring a looming budget deficit.
“How is it that you can come through boom times and not address those issues?” Pflug asked.
The answer is twofold. This year’s session was short, at 60 days, and its primary function was to approve a supplemental budget at the midpoint of the funding biennium. The other reason is politics. Democrats, despite enjoying huge “super majorities,” are loath to do anything that would give Republicans campaign issues to use against them.
All of which means that next year, after the elections and with a longer legislative session, lawmakers are going to face some big decisions. On the table will be how to fund replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle and the state Route 520 bridge over Lake Washington; how to make healthcare more accessible and more affordable; how to adequately and fairly fund education; how to pay for an $800 million decision against the state won by the Federal Way School District; how to pay for a new $300 million family leave program – and how to do all this in a recession with a projected deficit of $2.4 billion.
There is no way to do this without a dramatic cut in spending, a tax increase or a fundamental restructuring of the tax system, Anderson said. The current course is not sustainable.
“The rate of growth in spending is two times the rate of revenue growth,” he said.
Over the past four years of boom, spending has increased 30 percent, but Anderson said he has seen little result.
“We spent $8.4 billion, but what has been fixed?” he asked.
Despite the grumblings from the party out of power, the legislators said some things did get accomplished this session.
Rodne mentioned “good work” on climate change, requiring the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and help for homeowners facing foreclosure.
“There are lots of good things we did, but more on the periphery,” he said. “We ignored some critical things.”
Reach Reporter Jon Savelle at 392-6434, ext. 234, or jsavelle@isspress.com.
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