State Caught Using Illegal Body Gripping Traps
News by Nansen on February 2nd, 2010 with No Comments so far.
Kretz wondered what was under the black plastic pots scattered around the Capitol grounds. Turns out there were no fewer than 10 ‘body gripping traps’ placed at the Governor’s Mansion and Capitol grounds. These traps were outlawed in 2000 with Initiative 713 and became law under emergency rules a few months later.
Kretz immediately informed WDFW of these illegal traps. The General Administration claimed ignorance. They didn’t know the traps were illegal and have been using them for years.
“I can’t use that excuse if I broke the law!” Kretz exclaimed. “I find it hard to believe they didn’t know about the law. This is a big issue! Every year, for the past 9 years we have had lengthy floor debates about these traps.” Indeed, in 2002, then Attorney General Christine Gregoire wrote an opinion about the use of such traps.
While farmers struggle with less effective substitutes for controlling dangerous coyotes attacking livestock, our Governor has a mole problem so it is just fine to place these traps in heavily trafficked areas of the Capitol campus. Imagine if a visiting child (or angry Senator) accidently stepped off the curb and became trapped?
Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Unless of course you are the Governor.
Update: King 5 News visited Olympia and the traps have been removed. Story at 5:30pm.
Gregoire Breaks the Law to Help Denny Heck
Politics by Nansen on January 28th, 2010 with No Comments so far.Photo courtesy of the AP.
State PDC regulators are crying foul and again Washington’s 3rd Congressional District is in the national news. It turns out Governor Gregoire isn’t just anointing a candidate to replace the Democrat Brian Baird. Nope, she is apparently also willing to break state campaign finance law, yet again, in a deliberate attempt to gather all the money she can for the State Democrat establishment’s darling, Denny Heck.
Washington State has a pesky little law that prohibits elected officials from raising money for most candidates while the Legislature is in session. Gregoire played her lawyerly self, speaking through a spokesperson and lambasting the long established rules of the game as “ambiguous.” Funny talk coming from the former Attorney General, who should obviously know better. What’s truly ambiguous is whether Chris Gregoire herself is running for re-election; it was a “campaign spokesperson” who she trotted out to mount a half-hearted response.
Heck is a long time Olympia insider who knows better than to pull something like this. He is either not minding the shop or simply willing to defy the law in his quest to be Congressman. I am not surprised Governor Gregoire also wrangled Washington State Insurance Commish Mike Kreidler to sign the fundraising email—afterall, friends are scarce for the Guv in Olympia these days.
What this all boils down to is our Governor and Insurance Commissioner appear willing to sidestep campaign finance laws. That is sure to encourage more confidence and trust in government. But hey, if you’re on your way up or out, why not bend or break the rules, right?
For those keeping track, Gregoire is a repeat offender when it comes to campaign finance law; just Google “Gregoire+PDC.”
Threatening Calls Follow Baird Cancellation
Politics by Nansen on September 1st, 2009 with 14 Comments so far.In case you missed it, The Columbian, picked up on Baird’s cancelling the town hall he agreed to have in my living room.
My phone started ringing off the hook early this morning. At some point, I have to get work done, so I’m letting calls go to voicemail. Suspiciously, the calls have all followed the same talking points: “We will destroy you!” and “This is War!”
Here’s an example of one of the threats (left on my voicemail), from Cliff Hazen of Vancouver, WA. Nothing like a threat to destroy one’s livelihood to get the morning going, heh?
More as I get time to upload them. Some of us have to work for a living…
Running Scared: Baird Backs Out of Town Hall
Politics by Nansen on August 31st, 2009 with 3 Comments so far.Brian Baird continues to sink deeper into the partisan pit sands. In doing so, he’s losing any remaining semblance of being a moderate.
A few weeks back, I managed to join one of his “tele-town hall” calls, after a source sent me the call-in info. Last week I blew the top off Baird’s sham tele-town halls. Among other questionable practices, Baird intentionally keeps the date, time, and call-in info for his “tele-town halls” secret. Indeed, you might say his calls amount to taxpayer funded private focus groups.
Baird’s ‘Tele-Town Halls’ Appear to be a Sham
Politics by Nansen on August 27th, 2009 with 3 Comments so far.Our S.W. Washington Congressman has taken a drubbing in the press for his initial decision not to hold town halls. As cover, he tried lashing out. He then had to apologize. Now, even his apology has seemingly backfired.
At the moment, he needs to be perceived as reaching out, and re-building bridges he burnt to a charred crisp.
Baird’s first attempt at preempting criticism by trying to short-circuit the democratic process not only failed, it caused one heck of a backlash. Rather than be honest and earnest, Baird appears to be right back at it again: holding sham “town hall” calls with constituents.
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