Lawmakers, stop dithering and get to work

There is always some level of ridiculousness that goes on in Olympia during legislative sessions. Instead of bearing down on what must be done, some lawmakers cannot help but introduce oddball bills or put off what needs to be done for future Legislatures.

Putting off what needs to be done is part of the reason this Legislature has no time to waste. While the economy cratered, Olympia worked with blinders on, waiting to act after each revenue forecast. The economic forecasts have not been good for years, yet lawmakers take a wait-and-see approach then proceed to pass budgets that run counter to the forecasts.

Amazingly, that is happening again this session. It did not have to be like this. The Legislature gathered for a special session in December to get the supplemental budget in order. They did an admirable job. Democrats and Republicans worked together and cut $590 million. That left a $600 million deficit for the 2011 Legislature to figure out. Not perfect, but it was a start.

The House Democrats killed any bipartisan momentum when the new chairman of Ways and Means — Ross Hunter, D-Medina — created a supplemental budget that did not close the gap and excluded Republican input. Ross' excuse was that the Legislature needs to wait and see what happens with the March 17 forecast.

Business as usual in Olympia. The names and faces change but the games remain the same.

It is hard to understand why our elected officials do not grasp the seriousness of their inaction. I was floored last year when Hunter was in for his endorsement interview. During a conversation about spending and taxing, Hunter said that in 2008 lawmakers had no idea the economy would be this sick. We pointed out that in the fall of 2008 — months before the 2009 session — the economy was in a free fall and businesses (including The Seattle Times) were frantically trying to reduce expenses. He told us that we must have been mind readers.

One does not need to be a mind reader to know that the March forecast is not going to save the budget.

This dithering is compounded by legislators who believe their time is best spent coming up with fanciful ideas that have no hope of becoming law this year.

Leading the pack in this early part of the session are bills to create a state bank and an additional benefit for the unemployed. Bad ideas even during flush eras.

The state is in no position to be adding a benefit for the children and dependents of the unemployed. All the Democrats on the House Labor and Workforce Development Committee — Reps. Mike Sells, Everett; Chris Reykdal, Tumwater; Tami Green, Lakewood; Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, Seattle; Mark Miloscia, Federal Way; Jim Moeller, Vancouver; Timm Ormsby, Spokane; Mary Helen Roberts, Lynnwood — pushed out this idea of the organized labor lobby and ignored Gov. Chris Gregoire's smarter unemployment-insurance proposal.

Then there is the state bank. If this was such a great idea, why is North Dakota the only state in the union with a state bank? And if this was a good idea, now is not the time to consider creating a new governmental entity.

Put it off for another year. Maybe a year when an economic forecast does not make these ideas and budget dithering so sadly laughable.

Ryan Blethen's column appears on editorial pages of The Times. His e-mail address is: rblethen@seattletimes.com