EDITORIAL: State lawmakers must stay focused on education

Walla Walla Union-Bulletin (WA)

Feb. 23--Some Republicans leaders in the Washington state Legislature have wisely opted to stay out of national (and presidential) politics to focus on state government.

Good for them.

While what's going on at the White House and at Mar-a-Lago (the Southern White House) is fascinating, particularly for political junkies, it doesn't have anything to do with fully funding basic public education -- the Legislature's top priority.

Recently lawmakers were asked to comment on President Donald Trump's actions on immigration and health care reform as well as the successful effort by state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, to block the travel ban policy that was imposed.

"I didn't run for a federal office, I ran for a state office," said House Minority Leader Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish. "As you know, we've got some massive challenges going on here in Washington state, and it's really easy for us to get distracted."

Still, some Republicans and Democrats are weighing in on a few of the Trump's policy decisions such as the effort to repeal Obamacare (Affordable Care Act). That's understandable as the state does have a role in administering health care programs.

For example, state Sen. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville, told the Tacoma News Tribune she would at least like to keep the expansion of the state's Medicaid program that came along with the Affordable Care Act, as well as the part of the law that allows adults to stay on their parents' health insurance plans until they are 26.

However, Democrats have not been shy about denouncing Trump policies, particularly his original executive order banning the citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States for 90 days. All 74 Democrats in Washington's state House and state Senate signed a letter objecting to the order.

Having their views known is certainly appropriate (and politically necessary) as long as it's not all consuming.

To this point, lawmakers of both parties seem to be striking the appropriate balance.

The clock is ticking on lawmakers to get their work done during the current 105-day legislative session that ends on April 23. That's not a lot of time for the Democrat-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate to come to a consensus on how to fully fund basic education -- a task they've been working on since 2012.

The focus must be on education, not presidential politics.

Editorials are the opinion of the Union-Bulletin's Editorial Board. The board is composed of Brian Hunt, Rick Eskil, James Blethen and Alasdair Stewart

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