Republican

As a business owner, Sue Lani understands the need to apply common sense to government regulations. There’s nothing quite like starting a business in Washington to understand the burden of regulations on everyday life. We are strangling our small businesses, our natural resources and our communities with excessive and ill-fitting regulatory processes. One size does not fit all situations in a state as diverse as Washington. We need to get local responsibility and control close to the issues and bring common sense back to government. We must work to eliminate, reduce and streamline ill-fitting regulations at every opportunity.

Healthcare issues are more complex. Healthcare facilities are a major economic driver in our rural communities, and they are the canary in the coal mine when it comes to the viability of our healthcare system across the state. We are not facing up to these complex issues, and the system is going to crash unless we change direction, and change soon. Healthcare costs are a major factor in the state budget and understanding these issues will be critical to building a balanced budget in the 2008-2009 biennium. We need to apply compassion to the tough issue of accessible, affordable healthcare and access to health insurance. It is our duty as citizens to face the issues and get involved in being a part of the long term solution for the economic health of our communities as well as the physical health of individuals and families.  We must work towards long term solutions to complex healthcare issues, seeking substantive changes to the insurance, reimbursement and liability crises.

Citizenship is a concept we do not discuss often, not in its full meaning. We use it most simply as a statement of a particular status, as if stating that you are a United States citizen were no different than naming your favorite baseball team. The second meaning of citizenship is “the duties, rights and privileges of this status.” However, there is no clear and simple Bill of Duties to match our Bill of Rights, no Statue of Responsibility to stand beside the Statue of Liberty, and no immediate consequences if we neglect our duties as citizens. Sue Lani believes one of the most important of these duties is the duty to vote responsibly.

Voting represents the most basic duty of citizenship - to participate in selecting and directing the government. Every year there are elections decided by fewer than a dozen voters. Less than half of eligible citizens bothered to vote in the last presidential election. That is downright embarrassing for a country that says it wants to promote democracy.

In addition to participating in government, maintaining a civil society requires each person to value their government and to be invested in their community. Wise investors don’t look for the short term returns but focus on long term gains. Decisions made for the immediate headlines may not the best investment for the future. Sue Lani pledges to exercise effective decision making for economically healthier communities in 10 years, not just for the easy headlines in 10 days. Effective leadership demands it.