"DOT accused of campaigning against initiative to repeal gas tax"
Initiative 912 supporters have filed a complaint with the state alleging that the Department of Transportation has violated state law by campaigning against the anti-gas-tax measure.The StopSMP campaign has also filed a similar complaint with the PDC against the Seattle Monorail Project.The complaint, filed on Friday, contends in part that the agency has put misleading statements about the initiative on its Web site, posted links to articles critical of the initiative, and used booths at county fairs to influence voters to oppose the measure.
Agencies have overwhelming motive and opportunity to use public funds to campaign for their projects. At the same time, the practical consequences for violating the laws against campaigning with public funds are virtually non-existent.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at October 26, 2005 10:00 AM | Email ThisIt would seem that my assumption, that corruption in King County DOT is more the "rule" than the "exception" among government agencies, is being affirmed. This alleged abuse by the State DOT is just one more thing supporting one of the many reasons that I refuse to give any government agency another new tax dollar until "evidence" is provided that they are not already wasting or abusing the revenue they already have.
Prevailing wage, performance audits, conflicts of interest, emergency clauses, safety improvements versus congestion relief, statewide extortion to rebuild Seattle way beyond earthquake upgrades, and bias and fraud for developers are just some other reasons I support I-912. Not to mention the pointed attacks against talk radio, the blogs, bias in the press coverage, etc.
Posted by: Mike on October 26, 2005 11:59 AMWhen an agency has put a proposition on the ballot, it is compelled to release information about that proposition and its costs, effects, etc.
The SMP can hardly be expected to put up a monorail plan, and then not tell anyone what the route, station locations, costs, ridership, etc. are.
And despite the stupidity of SMP staff at times, they were smart enough to consult with the PDC prior to having anything printed up.
Posted by: FoM Prez on October 26, 2005 03:26 PMIf there were an actual performance audit, I bet they would find line items in their budgets for campaigning and fines for intentionally violating the law.
Posted by: Andy on October 26, 2005 06:02 PM
Ya think???
My question is....When is the Republcan party going to stand up for itself and for the people - against this crap? It's blatant and insulting to our intelligence!
What in the Hell is going on.....?
Posted by: Deborah on October 27, 2005 12:02 AMthe republicans are trying to say something but the democrats (anti- idealists wieners) are covreing it up. but i do agree. if was me i would make my own paper and say " ha ha hoe billies we can play that game too".
Posted by: andrew on October 27, 2005 06:40 PMSending a message will not fix the roads in our lifetimes. If you are going to vote for I-912, at least do it because of a better reason than that you believe an unproven allegation from an underfunded campaign.
Posted by: thor on October 27, 2005 07:10 PMFirst they rush that bogus *emergency* clause through the legislature in Olympia...(Who in the world would have believed they would try this crap?)
Then they come out with this costly and aggressive fear-mongering media blitz against I 912! And it's all bullsh*t!
Why on earth do they want such a fast and large chunk of our tax dollars - that they would resort to this bizarre and scandalous approach? It borders on hysteria.....They are acting like desperate junkies.
We know it's NOT because they believe the viaduct is going to fall any time soon...They have no plans to do anything to it for years - even if they get this gas tax money! In fact, most of the projects featured in the fear-monger campaign ads aren't even scheduled to begin for years!
The so-called *emergency* has nothing to do with road safety.....So why the hysteria? What are they planning to do with our money?
They are desperate for it...but not for the reason's they're trying to sell the public...
Posted by: Deborah on October 27, 2005 09:29 PMI know you recognize this, but the Gregoire administration inherited huge economic (balance sheet) problems from the Locke administration involving (most especially) threats our credit rating. All of the problems were caused by insane liberal democrat policies. Liberal Democrats will do whatever they must to plug anyone’s fingers into the economic dike created by their party while simultaneously promoting whatever sells to the bubbas.
Here, “SAFETY,” and the Alaskan Way Viaduct is the cause celebre'. Liberal witlings like HT prove the case (see Posted by HT at October 26, 2005 12:20 PM at Comment on Entry: Busting the anti-912 myths , authored by Timothy Goddard), and further posts where he melts down into a mass of unseemly liquid putrescence because he refuses to address it, and he refuses to acknowledge it.
None of these people are able to defend their positions on rational grounds, nor do they care to. Their petulance is only exceeded by their ignorance of how seriously their positions inure to their own detriment (most importantly along with the rest of us). That is part of why I find them so amusing. Nothing will change them, so, why be pi$$ed when you can have a laugh and stick a finger in their eye?
Thanks.
Great news.
Amazing, a liberal judge actually following the law!!
What next? I-912 passes, and Irons becomes KC Executive. I can happen.
"Judge" wickham is the same one who made the ruling against Fisher Broadcasting and Carlson/Wilbur in the first place.
His ruling then was created from a miasma of liberal contortions of the law. The state PDC has backpedaled on their intention of holding KVI to the fire over this (feel free to speculate as to why!), and wickham has now proclaimed that "justice was served" in his original ruling, and that nothing more needs to happen. This flies directly in the face of his earlier opinion.
It is no different than tripping your opponent on the backstretch, and then rooting him on when you're ten yards out in front of him.
Wickham needs to be removed from office (and anything more legal than a notepad!).....
Posted by: alphabet soup on October 28, 2005 11:33 AM