Now that the state Legislature is in full swing and has had time to carefully consider all the challenges this year brings, it's good to see how seriously they are at solving problems for us.
Most recently, this was highlighted by the idea that somehow having George Washington on our flag has risen to the top of this list.
So now, after all these years finally, there is a proposal — I can only assume it’s sincere — to get that guy off the flag.
I’m not sure about you, but I haven’t been able to sleep since it was proposed. After all, this critical piece of legislation, along with codifying “the Evergreen State” into law, are what's keeping us from being fulfilled.
And the list of people needed for the committee to design a new flag — representing all kinds of Washingtonians — was staggering. The selection process, along with the promised input by everyone — even us, you know, the little guy — gives me so much hope.
Boy, I sure hope this gets the attention it deserves in Olympia.
In other news from Olympia, there is a proposal that has cleared the House Housing Committee to require cities who restrict outdoor camping to be “objectively reasonable for the time, place and manner.”
According to the article, “objectively reasonable” is not defined in the legislation, which is good because lawyers need to eat, too. Supporting the legislation, among others, is our very own ACLU of Washington.
So, we can be sure it's a good idea.
The sponsor points out this is not a “one size fits all” fix and allows each community to deal with their own challenges. If that were true, I suspect some cities with ordinances wouldn’t object but, surprisingly, they do.
Washington is not a cheap place to live and, each legislative session, too many in Olympia make it more expensive every year. Taxes, gas and just about anything that moves is a target of direct taxes, more regulations making building more expensive, and poor decisions by the super majority Democrats who are there.
Ah, but the easiest solution is often the most overlooked. Rather than tell the cities they must allow people to camp outside pretty much wherever they want to, frequently creating a superfund cleanup site, just let them camp in state parks wherever they want for free.
The state already owns the state parks. They have restrooms and showers, and any of the enabling groups who support them can meet them there.
No need to restrict them to camp sites. After all, they aren’t now. So it’s a win-win!
Of course, this will make the parks look like homeless camps, but hey, you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet, they say.
This could be a model policy that other blue states could mimic, and it all started here. Now, there is the chance I have not clearly thought this through, but then neither do legislators when they propose far too much stupid legislation. So I’d be in good company.
And speaking of stupid legislation, there is a proposal to limit the reasons law enforcement officers can stop cars. No more stops for minor violations used over the years to arrest real criminals in cars. Nope. That’s just silly. If passed, officers can ignore expired tabs, tail lights and any other petty things used to legally stop a driver and check for warrants or investigate a crime. Recently, an officer stopped a car in another state for a “minor” violation and seized a large amount of drugs as a result. It happens frequently, but this kind of police activity here must stop.
That state, Alabama I think, foolishly acknowledged the significance of a minor traffic stop to deter crime.
Thankfully, we don’t have a crime or drug problem in Washington and don’t need those draconian traffic laws anymore.
But if they really want to prevent cops from using the law to stop cars, simply make the minor traffic laws go away. Make it lawful for us folks to ignore licensing our cars, have broken lights and all the rest — problem solved.
Now, this could affect the state's bottom line but, in effect, it will anyway. After all, why would I pay $100 for car tabs if there isn’t any downside if I don’t?
There are so many positive things happening in Olympia, like restricting parents rights (again), charging us per mile to drive on roads we already pay big taxes for, and so much more.
It’s difficult to not be excited to see what's next.
But, I’m really not.
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John McCroskey was Lewis County sheriff from 1995 to 2005. He lives outside Chehalis and can be contacted at musingsonthemiddlefork@gmail.com.
