I read with a great deal of interest your article on the Supreme Court vs. the state legislature and the lack of funding for education.

I would note that our incumbent Sen. Andy Hill is and has been chairman of the senate ways and means committee for years and as such has control of that body’s finances. It should be pointed out that he joined forces with two defecting democrats to gain control of the senate. This resulted in great deal of political conflict in Olympia and a budget that failed to meet the court’s mandate.

In your article Mr. Hill says he ran for senate to make sure the schools were well funded. My question is why didn’t he? He could have closed several large loopholes. For example, the tax break for auto dealers and manufacturers which allows new cars to pay sales tax on only the balance after trade in. This is millions and millions of dollars. I wrote to you about this to no avail. How many other loopholes will you allow? The means are there. It just needs some guts. Mr. Hill, you are the chair of ways and means. Fund the schools rather than make excuses. Do it now.

John Rogers, Kirkland