2017 legislative review
Editorial Scorecard
“ This is no way to run a lemonade stand , much less a state government . The brinksmanship bears an unflattering resemblance to recent secretive attempts by Republicans in Congress to gut Obamacare .
It defies common sense that these largely intelligent framers of public policy consistently end up rushing to beat deadlines — year after year , in state after state . It boggles the mind that leaders from both parties and all regions ultimately make a mockery of their duty to hear from the people who elect them .
Habitual oversleepers trick themselves by setting their alarm clocks several minutes ahead . The Washington Legislature must find its own method of self-deception , and systematize it before this group convenes again in 2018 .
Washingtonians can feel glad they weren ’ t locked out of state parks or public beaches over the holiday weekend . But in the long run , their exclusion from a historic state budget rates far worse .”
— The News Tribune ( 1 )
“ In case you didn ’ t notice , your aforementioned state lawmakers are hurtling toward yet another special session , or as the Sniff likes to call it , that moment when everyone starts negotiating after pretending for four months to be interested in negotiating . Other names for this time of year include a ) Ignoring Gov . Big Jay Inslee ; b ) Leaving town until leadership sorts it out ; and c ) Let ’ s take some more shots at Inslee and hope everyone buys it .
The new squabble is the same as the old squabble : a budget and state school funding . As it happens , legislators have been so busy not negotiating that they took time out this week to fuss over the surge of dandelions sprouting on the Capitol Campus and its ecofriendly lawns . The horror !” — The News Tribune ( 2 )
“ While school funding is the focus of this year ’ s special session in the Legislature , the extra time also gives the House of Representatives an opportunity to take important action regarding water rights .
A state Supreme Court ruling from October places undue burdens upon development in rural areas , inhibiting landowners and stifling economic growth in many portions of the state . Before leaving Olympia for good this year , members of the Democratcontrolled House should follow the lead of the Senate and pass a bill addressing the issue .
Environmental protections and growth management are important , but those desires should not quash smart development — which is the result of the Supreme Court ’ s 6-3 ruling in Whatcom County v . Hirst . That decision places extra scrutiny upon the state ’ s precarious balancing of water rights by demanding that counties , independent of the state , guarantee that water is available for development before issuing building permits in certain areas . Several counties , in the wake of the decision , have taken steps to limit the issuing of permits .
The net effect is to make the drilling of new wells prohibitively expensive and impractical for landowners planning minor developments . Legislators heard emotional testimony from landowners who poured their life savings toward building a home in a rural area , only to now be told they are unable to procure a permit because of the court ruling …
While a desire to limit large developments in rural areas is reasonable , the ruling unfairly encumbers private owners looking to build a single dwelling .
Because of that , the Legislature must to step in and restore some checks and balances to the system .” — The Columbian ( 3 )
6 association of washington business