Find out who your legislators are, then give them direction

By John Burbank

In about a week, when all the ballots are counted, we will know for sure who will be our elected public servants for the next few years. But ask your friends and neighbors the simple question: Who are the state senator and representatives for the area where you live? For the most part, you probably will get a shrug.

Most of us know who the president is, who are our U.S. senators, and our governor. But jump down to the state Legislature and we draw a blank. While most of our political news is about Congress and the president, the Legislature is where most of the laws are made (or not made) that determine public services for the people of this state. For example, the Legislature is under a court order right now to adequately fund K-12 education. The mandated reforms include lowering class sizes and increasing classroom time for students. Now that is something that directly affects the kids in your city and, indeed, more than one million kids in our state. And it costs money. That’s something for next year’s Legislature to figure out.

The Legislature decides a lot of other things, too. In Washington, about a half-million people who are not absolutely poor, but right on the margin, have become eligible for health coverage through our public Apple Health Care, a Medicaid program, thanks to our Legislature and governor. In some other states, those elected officials decided to deny coverage to people who work hard for low wages.

On the other hand, our Legislature has chosen to defund higher education over the past 6 years, rather than closing tax loopholes, forcing middle class parents to cough up tuition exceeding a fifth of their income and forcing students to go deep into student debt. It is the same Legislature that has been unwilling to close corporate tax loopholes to actually be able to fund public services such as education and mental health coverage and long term care.

Now it is easy to point to the Legislature and say, “they didn’t fund education, or transportation for a growing economy and a growing population. But that is a pretty broad stroke. There are many legislators that are willing and eager to step up to the plate as public servants. But there are others who frankly want to just throw hurdles in the way. That was certainly the case last year, when an agreed-upon transportation package was torpedoed by one state senator in southwest Washington who is a member of the Republican caucus, which controlled the Senate.

So the people we elect this November have a lot on their plate, from education to protecting the environment, to dealing with coal trains, to insuring that we have a strong public health network (essential to corralling a disease like Ebola). But we shouldn’t just assume that legislators will act for the public good all by themselves. We can and should let them know what we think is good and essential public policy. If we don’t then the discussion will be controlled by the corporate lobbyists who crowd the halls in Olympia.

Here’s a fundamental issue of humanity for the Legislature to chew on and put into law. We need a law guaranteeing paid sick days for all workers. Seattle has this in place now. The Seattle ordinance has been replicated in Portland, New York City, and other cities around the country. Connecticut passed a statewide paid sick days law this year. It is time we did the same. People should not have to choose between going to work and recovering from an illness, or caring for an ill child or parent. But in our state, this is exactly the Sophie’s choice many workers, especially low-wage workers, are forced to make, sometimes losing their jobs as a consequence.

This is just one idea for creating a better quality of life for the citizens of Washington state. Such a law will not pass in the stalemate of Washington, D.C. So all the more reason for us to keep our eyes on our state legislators and make sure they do the right thing for us in Olympia.

John Burbank is the executive director of the Economic Opportunity Institute (www.eoionline.org). Email john@eoionline.org.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Friday, June 13

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

In a gathering similar to many others across the nation on Presidents Day, hundreds lined Broadway with their signs and chants to protest the Trump administration Monday evening in Everett. (Aaron Kennedy / Daily Herald)
Editorial: Let’s remember the ‘peaceably’ part of First Amendment

Most of us understand the responsibilities of free speech; here’s how we remind President Trump.

Schwab: Why keep up nonviolent protests? Because they work

Our greatest democratic victories came on the heels of massive, nationwide demonstrations.

Bouie: Trump’s weaknesses show through theater of strength

His inability to calmly confront opposition and respond with force betrays brittleness and insecurity.

Add your voice to protect freedoms at No Kings Day protests

Imagine it’s 2045. Nationwide, women have been fully stripped of rights to… Continue reading

Shouldn’t we value diversity, equity and inclusion?

If one were asked to describe the American Dream in a nutshell,… Continue reading

Why are we rooting against victims in Ukraine, Gaza?

When did we as a nation become less empathetic, less sympathetic, more… Continue reading

Trump should cancel Musk’s access to our personal data

Loved the recent editorial cartoons about the Trump-Musk feud. Now, if Donald… Continue reading

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer testifies during a budget hearing before a House Appropriations subcommittee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Al Drago/The New York Times)
Editorial: Ending Job Corps a short-sighted move by White House

If it’s jobs the Trump administration hopes to bring back to the U.S., it will need workers to fill them.

A rendering of possible configuration for a new multi-purpose stadium in downtown Everett. (DLR Group)
Editorial: Latest ballpark figures drive hope for new stadium

A lower estimate for the project should help persuade city officials to move ahead with plans.

A rendering of the new vessels to be built for Washington State Ferries. (Washington State Ferries)
Editorial: Local shipyard should get shot to build state ferries

If allowed to build at least two ferries, Nichols Brothers can show the value building here offers.

June 11, 2025: Tear Gaslighting
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, June 12

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.