To the editor:

Shame on Olympia for approving a capital budget that spends $80 million to buy new land for parks, when existing state parks were placed on a closure list.

Olympia should have accepted the Republicans’ proposed amendment which transferred $25 million of that purchase money to keep state parks open, thereby avoiding the need for the deceptive $5 “opt-out” tax.

This tax is deceptive because some people may pay it not knowing it is not required. Now we have the new fee, along with more land we won’t be able to afford to maintain in the future.

Once again our Representatives Barbara Bailey and Norma Smith voted for common sense when they voted “no” on the $5 “op-out” tax.

Charlona Sawyer

Greenbank