There are 2 new legislators in OLYMPIA this year.
With Terry Nealey's defeat of incumbent Rep. Laura Grant, D-Walla Walla, in the 16th Legislative District, the Mid-Columbia will be represented in the 60-day legislative session solely by Republicans. He's joined by fellow freshman Rep. Susan Fagan, R-Pullman, who won a seat in the 9th District.
This year, legislators are faced with correcting years of bad decisions that have led to a budget deficit over $2.6 Billion, and a double digit unemployment rate that translates into 170,000 jobs. This looks more like a legislative accounting session then a law making session.
It will prove to be an interesting year for Special Interest groups like ABATE and the US Defenders to get our Senators and Representatives to step up, focus and fix the problems we will be bringing to their attention on Black Thursday.
Seems to me that they are trying to drive by looking in the rearview mirror.
Good luck Rep's. Nealey and Fagan.