Fix “Hirst” First

It’s crucial to have the ESSB 5239– the Hirst water wells fix - passed in the House as it has been four times in the Senate. The House is bent on representing the whims of Ecology, Gov. Inslee, Speaker Chopp and the environmental cartel.

The state Supreme Court simply got it wrong, as has been stated by the dissenting opinion of Justice Stephens, “The majority’s holding pushes a massive, and likely insurmountable, burden onto individuals applying for a building permit. This was not the legislature’s intent when it enacted RCW 19.27.097.” This is opinion represents what is in short supply- in depth, clear, reasonable look at law.

The Senate has taken this judicial error seriously and is standing ground setting an example for corrective legislation. Sens. Honeyford and Warnick have defended rural citizens with ESSB 5239. Senator Mike Padden has stated, “The Supreme Court’s Hirst decision threatens ruin for thousands of families that will not be able to obtain the water they need to develop their land… The court’s decision overturned decades of water law.”

It is correct to delay the Capital budget until the House will help legislatively correct an erroneous court decision.

Cindy Alia, Citizens’ Alliance for Property Rights

Issaquah