A guest editorial in today's Seattle Times by the presidents of the county and state corrections officer unions claims that years of inadequate funding for jails and staff now threatens public safety.

Of course they have some self-interest an making this argument just as teacher union officials have an interest in always demanding more money for government schools. But clearly something is wrong when high-risk violent felons are given early release without adequate supervision. I don't know how much funding the corrections system needs to do an effective job, or what other reforms might be needed, but it's an important discussion to have.