Republican Walsh Steps Down From Top Committee Post

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Story Published: Jan 12, 2007 at 1:42 PM PDT

By Associated Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Partisan politics has apparently undercut a Democratic attempt at bipartisanship in the state House of Representatives in Olympia.

Representative Maureen Walsh stepped down on Thursday as vice chairwoman of the House Committee on Early Learning and Children's Services.

Walsh was one of two Republicans tapped by majority Democrats for top committee posts in December, in a nod to bipartisanship.

At the time, Walsh said she was delighted by the appointment and did not envision any problems with her fellow Republicans, who are outnumbered in the House, 62-to-36.

She says now that she thinks that may have been naive. She says some fellow Republicans may not see her as a team player, and she needs to get along with her own caucus.

House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler says the Democrats are disappointed that their effort to include Republicans was rejected.

Walsh, who is from College Place, will remain a member of the committee, but a new vice chair will be named.

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