No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session.

New York Appeals Court

Judge Gideon J. Tucker

1866

We serve ourselves -- and our fellow citizens -- well by heeding this warning whenever the Washington Legislature convenes. Especially this biennium.

The peril to our lives, liberty and property is heightened, after all, since both the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the governor’s office, are controlled by nanny state Democrats who bow before the altar of big government.

Washington lists dangerously to port as our lawmakers in Olympia -- who represent the education, environmental and labor lobbies, not we the people -- continue to spend as though (to borrow the well-worn phrase) money grows on trees.

At times these elected representatives appear to abandon clear thinking altogether.

Consider a recent vote on an amendment to the Senate’s 2006 supplemental budget bill (SB 6386 -- for more information, go to www.washingtonvotes.com) that prohibits the use of state or federal medical assistance funds for sex-change operations.

Although the amendment was approved 32-12, two of those voting no were Sen. Margarita Prentice and Sen. Erik Poulsen, Democrats whose 11th and 34th districts, respectively, include the Highline area.

At a time when concern is widespread about the state’s ability to pay for health care services for legitimate medical care for low-income children and adults, how can any lawmaker vote to spend our tax dollars on sex-change operations?

We may stipulate that is an absurd example, but remember the vote reflects the mindset of 25 percent of our state Senate on this issue.

Meanwhile, House Republicans exposed -- much to the irritation of their colleagues across the aisle -- the reality of the Democrats’ proposed budget, which threatens to devour most of the state’s $1.6 million surplus.

And House Democrats don’t want to stop there. They want to increase state spending by another $478 million.

State spending has increased by over 12 percent since Gov. Christine Gregoire took office last year. If they prevail, their spending spree with our money will push that increase to 17.4 percent.

Now the Legislature, which had a nasty anti-business agenda (e.g., the Wal-Mart health-insurance bill) this year, even covets Seattle’s monorail tax.

Clearly, Olympia is out of control.

New Washington State Republican Party Chairman Diane Tebelius was on target last week when she observed that the “Democrats’ budget ... is yet another example of how Democrat tax-and-spend liberals have come to dominate Olympia. Apparently the majority party does not believe in fiscal responsibility ... Washington state deserves better.”

This list to port will not end until more conservative Republicans do more than signing petitions and calling radio talk shows.

A good starting point for partisans on the right is attending the Republican precinct caucuses on Tuesday, March 7.

To locate both your precinct and your caucus, go to www.kcgop.org.

Then once involved, stay involved. It takes a lot of effort -- a lot of teamwork -- to put together just one winning political campaign. Enough successful campaigns to win back control of just one legislative house requires much more.

Campaign contributions and voting are fundamental, but those acts alone are not enough.

Winning elections begins at the grass roots.

Every door knocked on, every campaign envelope stamped, every yard sign set out adds to the momentum, sends the message out and gets people to the polls.

And it all begins in the chill of a late winter evening months before candidates file and the races get underway.

Tebelius, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for Seattle, is committed to strengthening the Republican grassroots.

In addition to that positive indicator, Ms. Tebelius wants to revitalize the party’s public image by letting telling the public what Republicans are for, not just what they’re against.

This outreach to new voters promises to increase the amount of red in our blue state through what she envisions as a coming “Republican Renaissance.”

Ralph Nichols’ views are his own, and do not necessarily reflect those of Robinson Newspapers. He can be reached at newsdesk@robinsonnews.com or 206-388-1857.