Legislature responsible for school funding

In 2012, the Supreme Court of the State of Washington ordered the Legislature to fully fund basic public education. In the four years since the McCleary decision, the Legislature, has failed to comply with that order.

Contrary to the assertion in the Sunday Olympian, it is the Legislature, not the state, that is in contempt of the court’s mandate. The usual remedy for contempt of court is imprisonment until the contempt is purged. So let it be with the Legislature. The entire group (along with those who undertake to unduly influence them) should be incarcerated until they have enacted legislation in conformity with the Court’s original order.

Who knows, legislators might even start speaking civilly to each other, and accomplish something. There is also an additional fringe benefit –with our legislators and their multitude of lobbyists in stir, there might be space for the general public from 6 to 8 p.m. in some of our upscale restaurants.

This story was originally published September 10, 2016 at 11:59 AM with the headline "Legislature responsible for school funding."