Discontent Brews with Murray As Ferry Godmother

By Evan at July 19th, 2009.

While the opinion pages of the Seattle Times continue to shrink in stature and size, one of my favorite reads continues to be the letters to the editor section.

Last week, our state’s senior Senator, Patty Murray, recently attracted attention from readers who cried “pork” over Murray’s role in a last minute deal arranging millions more in pork barrel bucks for our problem-ridden ferry system–after first being snubbed by the Obama Administration.

Much of the feedback in the comments section of the two stories (first, second) and subsequent editorial seems to indicate readers view Murray not as rescuer, but as part of the problem.  That is, a politician who’s become far too content with navigating the pork process, instead of reforming it.

A few poignant questions the Times might want to ask in light of reader reaction–that is, if anyone is left at the paper to actually read story comments:

Where did this new $7 million come from? Is it part of the stimulus package, or from elsewhere?

How is it that Murray (a supposed “cardinal of the senate”) came about this extra slice of pork?

Was our state really the most deserving?

Finally, how does the federal government sinking money into a ferry system that’s not known to produce quick turnaround measure up with the need to immediately stimulate the national economy?

Tags: Barack Obama, Chris Gregoire, featured, Patty Murray, Ray LaHood, Washington State Ferries

Tweet This Post to Facebook Digg This Bookmark at Delicious
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.