Local members buy chess sets for detainees

Council 2 launches library campaign

News in brief

New York women's convention leaves lasting impression

60 members added in four counties

Members see legislative process up close

Nail-biting finish to measure backed by Council 2

Officer saves woman as she takes 20-foot plunge

Those we elect should decide issues - president's column

Members should take careful look at new retirement plan

Session was most productive in years

Kathleen Shelton retires

By CHRIS DUGOVICH

Chris Dugovich
Council 2 President/Executive Director

Everybody’s in the Initiative business.

Everybody seems to be getting into the initiative business and placing issues on the ballot these days, even the individuals who don’t have to do so — the legislature.

Although there have always been mechanisms for the state legislature to place issues before the voters the initiative process was really meant as a way for the less than powerful to let their voices be heard. The legislature doesn’t have to do that; they can decide the issues all by themselves. Most issues have been and should be decided by those we elect, who have time to study them and make a learned decision. That’s representative democracy, a system that has served this country very well for more than 200 years.

I like the legislature — the way that ideas are brought forward in the form of bills, the committee review, the amendments and changes that occur throughout the process as more and more information is gathered and weighed until a good idea is passed into law. Bad ideas are sent packing. And, if by chance there’s a partisan lean to the process — well, that’s exactly what the system is designed to include.

New phase

Now, however, we’ve entered a new phase where the perception is that in making a decision you may be held accountable. Therefore, let’s punt and let the electorate make the decision at the ballot box. Don’t get me wrong, they still make many decisions that affect our everyday lives, however a critical need to fix our transportation system will be left to 30-second commercial sound bites on the airwaves prior to the fall election. Our elected leaders in the meantime will stand back and merely state that the voters should have a say on the matter. Didn’t we have our say when we elected them?

While for better than two legislative sessions they’ve avoided dealing with our transportation issues the traffic continues to get worse and the economy of the state is negatively affected. Goods and services move slower and slower, commuter times continue to lengthen. Boeing talks of leaving the state of Washington and many others won’t even consider relocating here in the Northwest.

It’s fairly clear now that I don’t like the kind of initiative process that has really brought about the legislature’s paralysis on the transportation issue. Their lack of decision-making ability is a knee-jerk reaction to the initiative process and rather than take it on and point out its weaknesses, they’re playing the game. Why decide when you can place it on the ballot?

Why not look to whom they can emulate? The initiative process has produced such dedicated citizen activists as the paid signature gatherer and the for-profit initiative czar and watch salesman, Tim Eyman.

But now, because the legislature failed to do the job it was elected to do, the rest of us, however grudgingly, will need to take up the slack and do the right thing. The right thing means we need to pass the state transportation package so our state’s economy and quality of life aren’t downgraded any further — something the legislature should have done all by itself!