John F. Kennedy's 1957 Pulitzer Prize winning book-- Profiles in Courage-- featured short biographies describing acts of political bravery and integrity of eight United States Senators during America's history. Any nomination list for the 2013 Profiles in Courage Award, at least in Olympia, should include state Representatives Hans Zeiger and Linda Kochmar who appear prepared to buck their party and support the proposed transportation package.
Speaking this morning to the Washington Highway Users Federation, Kochmar said, "We're very concerned about 167 and 509. When I ran for office I said I wanted jobs and I can't think of anything that would do more for our region and for our state than this package. I know if has a tax increase but there are times when we don't have a choice-- we have to bite the bullet.
Zeiger agreed. "I ran on this issue," he said. "Completing State Route 167 was my number one issue. Constituents are saying overwhelmingly that this is a big deal."
Both expressed increasing frustration with House leadership and the unwillingness by leaders to schedule a vote. "I'm pretty frustrated," said Zeiger. "We need to be working on transportation at the same time we are working on an operating budget. The longer we go not getting something done on the operating budget under the premise that we can't do anything on transportation until afterwards may doom us to failure. If it does not happen this year it will be a real shame given all of the momentum that was put together for this. I think we need to take a vote on the transportation package in the House tomorrow. While we work through the issues of the budget we could be using that time to get something done on transportation"
These two lawmakers believe the Legislature is capable of figuring out both an operating budget and a transportation package. The question is, will leadership act?
UPDATE: On June 26, 2013 Rep. Hans Zeiger kept his promise and voted for the transportation package. While the bill was defeated that day, the House moved to reconsider the bill on June 27. Zeiger again voted for the measure which then passed. Rep. Kochmar voted "no" on both occasions.