Governor Chris Gregoire’s revenue proposals are a step in the right direction. If passed by voters in March, a half-penny sales tax increase would help protect children from further harm. Closing tax loopholes makes our state government more accountable and makes sure wealthy interests do their part to build a healthy future.

Still, even if all of the tax changes Gov. Gregoire is advocating are enacted, they would still fall short of protecting crucial education, health care and public safety programs. And that would put children at risk.

Washington’s 1.7 million kids had no part in negotiating the deal passed by Congress Tuesday to raise the debt ceiling. But their futures will be affected by it, profoundly and perhaps disastrously.

In a very short time, Congress now stands to make decisions with far-reaching effects on programs used by the one million Washington households accessing food stamps; or the nearly 700,000 kids on Medicaid; or the 11,000 children enrolled in Head Start.

As the deadline for raising the debt ceiling nears, talks between the White House and Congress revolve around the kinds of choices both parties can live with. It’s not just tax exemptions or spending cuts that are at issue; lawmakers are speaking, at least indirectly, about the future of America’s kids.

And when they’re talking about cutting services, what they’re saying is profoundly out of touch – not only with the needs of children, but with the will of voters.