Allow House vote on benefits bill

04/02/2000

DIANA DELANEY; Tacoma



Justice, fairness and democracy. Aren't those the cornerstones of life in America? That's what I used to think. I also used to think our elected officials really went to Olympia to represent those of us who send them there. Man, was I naive.

Today in Olympia one man, co-Speaker Clyde Ballard, is keeping a bill that extends desperately needed unemployment benefits to 2,400 locked-out Kaiser Aluminum workers from coming to the House floor for a vote. You know why Ballard will not allow this vote? Because the bill would pass. Gov. Locke has already said he would sign the bill if it passed.

So much for democracy in Washington state. I and the other Steelworkers families who have been kept off the job by Kaiser Aluminum for over a year and a half are hurting. We need the public to speak up and demand that Ballard allow the House to vote. All this is about justice, fairness and the American way.

DIANA DELANEY; Tacoma