Letters to the Editor

Free transportation isn’t discrimination

State senator, Mark Schoesler, misses the mark again when he complains about the supposed tax and services imbalance between the two different sides of Washington.

He calls free public transportation for westside children discriminatory against Eastern Washington taxpayers, who supposedly have to “pick up the tab.” However, children are children, no matter where they live and whether their parents are Democrats or not.

Why wouldn’t most voters be happy to pay the extra pittance in taxes to keep children out of the rain and from walking to school or home on busy unlit roads? Schoesler doesn’t see it that way.

In my local school district, a van is provided to take students to either Pullman for swimming or to Colton for baseball, as these sports aren’t offered in Palouse. If anything, students in many small school districts are individually cared for far better here than on the westside.

Where’s the discrimination?

He also complains about the lack of state funding for bridge repair and road resurfacing in Eastern

Washington. However, the state Department of Transportation website lists eight travel advisories in seven different rural counties for construction and repair delays going on right now. Sounds like our “taxes and fees” are hard at work and being well spent, unbeknownst to Schoesler.

He continues to do a disservice to his constituents when he cites inaccurate information and preaches an “us versus them” philosophy. Schoesler needs to realize that we are all in this together.

Bruce Pemberton

Palouse

Re: “Honor Flight”

It’s important to recognize that Ritzville High School graduate Richard Heimbigner not only fought in Korea but also died there.

Cynthia Langenheder

Spokane