The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - In a Community Conversation Phone Conference with area voters on Monday night, Rep. Maureen Walsh and Rep. Terry Nealey polled listeners on several issues.

Question 1: The State Supreme Court recently di­rected the legislature to put more dollars into teacher pay and education right away. Should the court be telling the legislature how to do its job?

Response 1: 82% of those polled felt the court should not be directing the legislature in regards to policy.

Question 2: The House of Representatives and the Governor want to raise the gas tax by 10.5 cents/gallon to fund transportation proj­ects. Are voters in favor of this tax increase?

Response 2: Of 200 re­spondents, 92% were op­posed to the additional gas tax.

Question 3: What is the single most important issue voters would like to see the legislature address: jobs and the economy, education, healthcare, budget/spending, transportation, other.

Response 3: Jobs/econo­my 40%, state budget/spend­ing 27%, healthcare 13%, education 9%, transportation 7%, other 4%.