To the editor:

The best thing about Barbara Bailey (State Representative, Position 2) is her irrelevance. She opposed these significant bills, which all passed the House and became law:

• SB 6809 (57–37), State sales tax exemption for low-income families;

• SB 5297 (63–34), Promote sex education;

• Sub-HB 2661 (61–37), Prohibit hiring discrimination based on sexual orientation;

• SB 6272 (69–27), Promote financial literacy for homeowners;

• SB 5278 (51–43), Allow public financing in local campaigns;

• SB 5261 (68–26), Review health insurance rates (by Insurance Commissioner);

• SB 6333 (63–31), Establish a citizens’ work group on health care reform;

And many, many more.

My count shows Bailey was prime sponsor for 18 bills in 2007–2008.

Three passed. Two were innocuous plaudits, and the third prevents double-dipping by retired teachers.

Her stalled HJR 4218 attempts to thwart the Legislature’s majority, ala last November’s I-960 and the U.S. Senate’s 60-vote filibuster rule. Her frivolous HB 3313 would designate coffee as the state beverage.

As Position 1 Representative, recent appointee Norma Smith votes with Bailey on nearly every issue. She was prime sponsor of one (Bailey-cosponsored) bill, requiring sex offenders to pay for their own electronic monitoring (HB 3161). It didn’t pass.

Three bills that both opposed are still alive: SB 6305, funding education to prevent teen pregnancies; HB 2664/SB 6241, preventing commercial “mining” of prescriber-identifiable prescription data; and HB 2917, providing voter information and registration at institutions of higher learning.

These records show that Bailey and Smith promote ignorance, bigotry and commercial interests with little regard for the public’s wishes.

It is time for change in the 10th Legislative District. We need Tim Knue, Position 1, and Patricia Terry, Position 2.

James Bruner

Oak Harbor