(Editorial) Where accountability is lacking IN OUR VIEW / FIRING OF STATE TRANSPORTATION CHIEF

[icymist]

To listen to Republicans in the Legislature, there's an accountability problem in state government.

It's why majority Republicans and the one Democrat who caucuses with them ousted Secretary of Transportation Lynn Peterson on Friday by voting to reject her nomination for the post that she has held for three years. And it's why Dan Pacholke, secretary of the Department of Corrections, sensing he might be next, resigned his post a day later. Pacholke was appointed to his office in October when Gov. Jay Inslee asked him to delay his retirement from the agency he had served for 33 years.

“I hope it helps meet your need for blood,” Pacholke wrote to a Republican senator, The Herald's Jerry Cornfield reported Saturday.

Dramatic, sure, but not without reason to Democrats in Olympia who believe Peterson's firing and the reported recent badgering of Pacholke before a joint committee meeting have more to do with election year politics than fixing problems in state government.

Pacholke inherited the mess involving a software failure that led to the state releasing more than 3,200 prisoners earlier than intended since 2002 because they were given time off for good behavior they were ineligible for. It was a problem that the agency was alerted to in 2012 during his predecessor's tenure.

http://www.heraldnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=%2F20160209%2FOPINION01%2F160209251&template=MobileArt

Everybody get your seat-belts fasten; dirty politics in Washington State! This entire editorial makes it clear to me that lines are being drawn and the Republicans are going after Inslee hard and dirty this election!

[pscot]

1. The Repukes seem to be i the saddle down there

Where's the gov in all this? No pushback?

[icymist]

2. Inslee is incensed as he should be.

The state Republican controlled senate has just lost Hunt which makes the state senate 24 Rep/ 24 Dem. The Republicans are probably pissed that Graham Hunt had to resign. Regardless, this stunt of a quick vote took us all by surprise. They're trying to make Inslee look like he can't manage his cabinet:

The vote — which effectively fired Peterson — came as Republican senators blasted the Washington State Department of Transportation, citing frustrations with the Highway 99 tunnel project, Interstate 405 toll lanes and problems with the ferry system.

Democratic lawmakers and Inslee called Peterson’s ouster an election-year stunt. Inslee said Republicans “should be ashamed” of the move.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/inslee-appoints-acting-transportation-chief/

Senate Republicans are trying to make Peterson out as a scapegoat for the shoddy company digging the highway 99 tunnel and the delays with this as well as those stupid tolls for driving on what used to be HOV lanes which surge as high as $10 for ten minutes commute time saved! This is all bullshit as the Republicans are the ones that voted for all this in the first place!

FLASHBACK: SENATE REPUBLICANS VOTED AT LEAST SEVEN(!) TIMES TO AUTHORIZE AND FUND TOLLING ON 405

February 8, 2016

On Friday, Senate Republicans Like Andy Hill Attacked Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson and Forced Her Out for Tolling Policies They Created And Continually Funded

Republicans Knew Peterson Was Working to Fix the Problems With The Tolls When They Fired Her

Seattle - Right before forcing her out as Transportation Secretary last Friday, Senate Republicans like Andy Hill relished blaming Lynn Peterson for the hiccups with the new 405 tolls. With a confirmation vote taking place nearly three years after she was appointed and with zero notice given to the Governor or Democratic legislators, Republicans fired Lynn Peterson in an outrageous abuse of power. One of the main reasons offered by Hill for Peterson's dismissal was the 405 tolls and hot lanes.

http://www.wa-democrats.org/press/flashback-senate-republicans-voted-least-seven-times-authorize-and-fund-tolling-405