State Journal: Driving mistake; Silent avalanche

Senator Dan McDonald, chairman of the Washington State Senate's appropriations committee, created considerable controversy this year--and a savings on paper of $10 million-by pushing through a provision eliminating state aid for driver's education for most students.

Although local school systems could have absorbed the state-aid cut, most decided this summer to pass the cost on to students, raising the fee charged for a driving course from $80 to $300, except for students from low-income families.

The resulting public distress apparently has had an effect on Senator McDonald, who is a potential Republican candidate for governor next year. He recently urged school officials to hold off on the tuition hikes and promised to try to restore state funding when the legislature...