Louisville Courier Journal Editorial: Walter Baker's Model

Walter Baker's model

The long and distinguished career of Walter Baker, who died Monday at the age of 73, was evidence that bipartisanship and cooperation can do more than advance a political agenda -- it can produce constructive results for the people. In many ways, he was Kentucky's 20th Century Henry Clay.

Mr. Baker, a lawyer from Glasgow, made his mark as a Republican representative when he first went to Frankfort in 1967. Four years later, he moved on to the state Senate, where he was a voice of reason and civility in a body then dominated by Democrats. Principle, not partisanship, was the hallmark of his actions there, culminating, in 1990, with his vote for the Kentucky Education Reform Act. He was one of only three Republicans to support the measure.

After he left the General Assembly, Mr. Baker served on the Kentucky Supreme Court and on the Council for Postsecondary Education. It is noteworthy that upon his passing, both Sen. Mitch McConnell and Gov. Steve Beshear paid glowing tributes.

To the unruly, partisan bunch who dominate the legislature these days, the passing of Walter Baker should be a reminder that cooperation, in the end, provides places in the history books.