Media barred from golfing event
Despite possible free tickets to this month’s U.S. Open golf championship — and maybe a Tiger Woods spotting — many Southwest Washington lawmakers won’t be attending the event.
“I’ve practiced and practiced whenever I could, but I just couldn’t get my score down to where I could qualify,” said freshman lawmaker Rep. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver.
“All kidding aside, I’m not much of a golfer and I like watching it even less,” she said.
Most lawmakers are hoping to adjourn by the time the golf tournament starts later this month. Legislators are in the midst of a second special legislative session and are hoping to strike a deal on a two-year operating budget. Many are worried there won’t be any hotel rooms available in Olympia when the golf fans arrive.
Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, is the only lawmaker who said she was a “maybe.” And, she added, she has purchased her own tickets.
Rivers said it will depend on the progress lawmakers make toward satisfying the McCleary requirements, referring to a state Supreme Court case mandating the Legislature fully fund education.
Other Southwest Washington lawmakers said they would not attend.
“If we are still in session, I feel like it would be in poor taste to attend while there is still work to do in Olympia,” said Rep. Brandon Vick, R-Vancouver. “If we have completed our work, I have more than enough to catch up on at home.”
Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, said he needs to “get back to my job and making a living.”
Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, is a no.
Rep. Sharon Wylie, D-Vancouver, said she’s not much of a golfer and is just hoping lawmakers “get their work done.”
Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, said she enjoys playing golf, but is not the biggest spectator. She won’t be attending but said she’s “thrilled about the economic benefit to our state.”
Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, will not be attending; instead, he said he’ll be “working on behalf of (his) constituents.”
And Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver, said he has no interest in golf.
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