Pressed with needing to make spending cuts in the state’s expense of housing and hopefully rehabilitating juvenile criminals, the majority Democrats in Olympia this past April called for a study.

    The study, however, only allowed for looking into either closing Green Hill School in Chehalis or Maple Lane School in South Thurston County. Forced to make a choice, the consultants said if it was only between Green Hill and Maple Lane, they recommend closing Maple Lane. The consultant’s final draft released last week states, “It is our conclusion that the data do not support closure of either Green Hill or Maple Lane.”

    What is glaring in its absence is the Naselle Youth Camp in Pacific County, which was not included in the scope of the study.

    What’s happening is Pacific County sends Democrats to Olympia. Lewis and South Thurston counties are represented by Republicans. Specifically, Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, is chairman of the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee.

    That committee targeted closing Green Hill during the last legislative session. That caused quite a stir. Our three state representatives — Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester, Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, and Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis — all strongly voiced their concerns. Even Gov. Chris Gregoire had recommended, in her proposed budget, to close Naselle before Green Hill or Maple Lane.

    This all led to the study. When the study parameters were released back in April, Sen. Swecker tried to amend it to include studying all the facilities. That effort failed.

    Earlier this month Rep. DeBolt sent a letter to Gov. Gregoire complaining about the limited scope of the study. DeBolt asked, “How is it that the alternative deemed most practical by an early study — closing Naselle — is now off the table?”

    This all seems to have frustrated Gov. Gregoire. In a meeting with reporters this week, she said the state will have a budget shortfall come January of between $1.2 billion and $1.7 billion, and that cuts are mandatory.

    Gov. Gregoire told reporters the time to complain about the study in question was when it came out in April, not now.

    Maybe the governor needs to refer back to Sen. Swecker’s attempt to amend the study back in April.

    Cuts need to be made to the state budget, and the number of juvenile offenders in the state is decreasing. It would hurt our local economy if Green Hill or Maple Lane closes. But if a fair, nonpartisan report concluded that closing Maple Lane or Green Hill was the proper course of action, we could support such a move.

    We cannot support an attempt to politicize such a decision. This is not in the best interests of this state and certainly not in the best interests of the kids going through the juvenile rehabilitation system.