State legislators have been criticized for taking two additional sessions to pass a budget. We carped, too, noting that much of what was in the end product could have there from the start.

But while much was made by some of the bitter differences between the Democrat-controlled House and the Majority Coalition Caucus in the Senate, that caustic tone wasn’t reflected in our Eastside legislators who met this week with the East King County Chambers of Commerce Legislative Coalition.

Legislators, both Democrats and Republicans, genuinely have the best interests of the Eastside at heart and – better yet – agree on most of what that is.

The legislators, representing the 5th, 41st, 45th and 48th districts, basically agreed that schools finally got the attention they deserve, even if it took a judge’s ruling to force the issue. The additional $1 billion allocated for K-12 education represents a down payment of what should continue in future sessions.

There also was agreement that the failure of the Legislature to pass a transportation package will hurt the state in the future. The problem, many legislators said, is that some in the Legislature used transportation as a hostage to try and get something else in the budget. That didn’t work and in the end, it was the transportation package that suffered.

Rep. Judy Clibborn, a Democrat from Issaquah’s 41st District and chair of the House Transportation Committee, put it succinctly: “Do you know what it’s like to have a dead hostage?”

Though the Eastside is served by both Democrats and Republicans, those at the meeting noted that they probably agree on a majority of the issues facing the state. And to their credit, and our good fortune, they work together to take care of this area’s needs.

– Craig Groshart, Bellevue Reporter