A CAMEL, IT has been said, is a horse designed by a committee.
Democrats in Olympia agreed they should raise taxes. Now they’re wrangling over which and how much.
Once they design that camel, they can finish their spending camel redesign.
Dare we hope that a herd of liberals will project new revenue very conservatively?
For example, if taxing bottled water and soda pop, will they estimate revenue based on sales of half as much of those items as purchased last year?
If folks don’t switch to drinking direct from the tap, the Legislature will have a small surplus next year. Wouldn’t that be refreshing?
Budget and spending camel design is predicted to continue at least until March 11, the constitutional final day of the regular session — or into the sandstorm of a special session.
Meanwhile, smaller issues trickle along:
• House Bill 2935, revising growth management and other environmental hearings boards, passed the House and is inching its way through the Senate. (See my Jan. 29 column, “Growth management that doesn’t.”)
Sponsored by Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, HB 2935 projects modest state budget savings, but no reduction in the burden on counties, cities or individuals.
This camel needs more design adjustments before it really carries water.
• House Bill 2752 increases to 72 hours the time allowed before a parent is notified when a child is admitted to a licensed youth shelter or other organization serving homeless or runaway youth and their families.
The House overwhelmingly passed HB 2752, with Van De Wege and Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, supporting.
Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, was one of seven Senate Human Services and Corrections committee members moving the bill forward with a “do pass” recommendation.
Thursday morning, it was on the second reading calendar for debate and possible amendment in the Senate.
Clallam County is home to one of only a handful of state-licensed homes for runaway youth. Due to the current eight hour notification rule, Vine Street Cottage in Port Angeles is the most underused facility operated by my employer, Serenity House of Clallam County.
The moment the Dream Center teen outreach staff tells a runaway his or her parent must be notified before the minor can receive shelter, the teen typically opts to stay on the streets.
When contacted, some parents demand that their child be taken directly to juvenile detention and refuse to allow the teen to be safely sheltered for up to 14 days, while tempers cool and professionals work on family reconciliation, where possible, or other safe options.
As the mother of a brief runaway, years ago, I would prefer to insert a mandate for an early advisory call to parents from a third party, without identifying the helping agency, just to let folks know their child is safe.
Nevertheless, this amendment to a hamstrung statutory camel appears likely to effectively enable youth shelters to help families navigate the desert storms common to teen-rearing.
Some bills that had seemed dead may be resurrected as parts of budget bills.
One can only pray that at least some of the resulting laws are as well suited to their tasks as the camel is to the environment for which it was created.
Martha Ireland was a Clallam County commissioner from 1996 through 1999 and is the secretary of the Republican Women of Clallam County., among other community endeavors.
She and her husband, Dale, live on a Carlsborg-area farm.
Her column appears Fridays.
E-mail her at irelands@olypen.com.
