“Only” $1 Billion!

During a visit to The Times office this week, State Rep- resentatives Maureen Walsh and Terry Nealey talked about the three-month legislative session which be- gins Monday in Olympia. In a wide-ranging discussion, the two touched on many of the issues they'll be facing between now and early April.

Nealey pointed out that the legislature goes in facing a budget shortfall of about $1 billion. This compares to a nearly $5 billion dollar hole the legislature faced entering last year's session.

"It's 'only' $1 billion," Nealey and Walsh both joked.

"I've been in the legislature three years," said Nealey "and I've never experienced a surplus."

Walsh, who has represented the 16th district since 2005, has. "You could say yes to a lot more people," she said.

Both Walsh and Nealey feel strongly, however, that the state legislature blew it when the state ran large surpluses prior to the recent economic collapse. "They spent all the surplus and still ended up with a deficit," said Nealey. Both stressed the importance of maintaining surpluses during the good times so cuts don't have to be so drastic during the down times.

Walsh and Nealey, both Republicans, are part of the mi- nority in the House of Representatives, in which Democrats hold a 55 to 43 majority this year. But both are still well placed to have an important influence on issues that affect people in the Touchet Valley.

Nealey has been named the ranking Republican on the House Finance Committee, which will play an important role in filling that $1 billion hole. Because of a voter-approved measure requiring a 2/3 majority in both the Senate and House to raise taxes, it is expected that all of the shortfall will have to be covered by budget cuts.

But neither Walsh nor Nealey could be called cold-hearted slashers.

Walsh is the ranking Republican on the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee. She is taking the lead in finding ways to improve preschool education through programs like Head Start and ECEAP (Early Childhood Edu- cation and Assistance Program).

She and Nealey both pointed out that improving parenting skills is essential to making kids better prepared for school. While it would be better if the government didn't have to get involved in the lives of young families, as Walsh put it "If we don't pay now, we'll probably pay more later," when those struggling kids enter the criminal justice system.

Besides overall cost cutting, one of the most important issues facing legislators this year will be dealing with some- thing called "The McCleary Decision." In January 2012, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that the legislature was in violation of the state constitution by not providing adequate education for kids.

Walsh and Nealey both said the steps needed to resolve the issue are unclear at this point. It will likely involve more money for local schools. New education reforms are also likely in the works.

When asked about issues of particular interest to Times readers, here are a couple the two legislators brought up:

Water Rights - Nealey, a Dayton attorney, has been in- volved in water rights issues since long before he entered the legislature. He is working on legislation to ease the process for farmers to apply for water rights. Right now, he says, there are backlogs of water right applications going back as long as 15 years.

County Fairs and Horse Racing - Support for pari-mutuel wagering from the state has been eliminated for tracks in Walla Walla, Waitsburg and Dayton. As a result, Dayton Days and Days of Real Sport in Waitsburg have lost their main attraction, at least for now. Neither Walsh nor Nealey see much likelihood that state subsidy of local horse racing can resume, especially since income at the state's largest rac- ing venue, Emerald Downs, in Seattle, has dropped con- siderably.

The state continues to provide financial support for county fairs throughout the state - to the tune of $1 million last year. Walsh and Nealey both say they strong- ly support the continuation of the funding, which will help the Columbia County and Walla Walla County fairs going.

Walsh and Nealey both head to Olympia this weekend. Walsh is bringing along her son, who has a job lined up at the Wal-Mart store there. Nealey and his wife, Jan, will rent the same house they rented last year. He's nursing an injured foot, but hopes to resume his pickup basketball routine there soon.

We're encouraged by the two leaders who represent the 16th district in the House. Both are clearly thoughtful and pragmatic about the issues facing the legislature this year, while being realis- tic about the need for the state to live within its means.