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Liquor Control Board hiccups
posted on 12/27/02 - WW15
First, there was the $32 million fiasco surrounding a useless warehouse.
Then, last February, an audit report discovered that the Liquor Control
Board (LCB) couldn't accurately account for its more than $400 million
in sales. Six months later another audit report uncovered over $800,000
in false billing records. But is anything being done about the Board's
long track record of corruption and mismanagement?
These internal shortcomings are all symptoms of a bigger problem:
the LCB is a monopoly in charge of both regulating and distributing
the product it sells. How can state officials be so blind to such
an obvious conflict of interest? As one Seattle Times editorial put
it, "The Board's very mission challenges logic: At the same time
as it is supposed to keep minors from buying liquor and drunks from
getting drunker, it is responsible for keeping liquor profits flowing
into the state treasury." Even a stumbling drunk couldn't miss
this one. But for some reason our state leaders are still seeing double.
 Click
here to read more details about this story on the EFF website.
You can call the LCB at 360-664-1600, email the LCB at wslcb@liq.wa.gov
or click
here to visit the LCB website for further contact information.
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It
pays to be sick
posted on 12/26/02 - WW14
Two-hundred ten paid sick days each year? We found this hard
to believe. But it's right here in black and white: The
Evergreen State College Faculty Handbook states: "Faculty
employees shall be credited with 210 calendar days sick leave per
contract year." Two-hundred ten? How does that work when there
are only about 180 school days in a calendar year?! But just in case
you didn't catch it the first time around, the handbook goes on to
say: "Sick leave shall be limited to 210 calendar days
for any one illness." Good thing they put a cap on it. At least
the school is showing some restraint.
In addition to the 210 paid sick days, faculty are entitled to a
total of twelve work-weeks of leave each year for disability, parental,
or family medical leave. And these are good reasons for staying home.
But that's another 60 days of paid leave. So it looks like you could
be employed by the Evergreen State College, never work a single day,
and still get paid full-time! The college calls the plan "very
generous." We call that the understatement of the year.
Click
here to view the sick leave policy in the Evergreen State
College Faculty Handbook. You can also click
here for the Human Resources department, or call 360-867-6000.
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Stolen
veteran's benefits
posted on 12/26/02 - WW13
Paul Taylor retired from the Air Force and spent the end of
his life in a state home for veterans. He died owing the state $156,000
in unpaid bills, but it wasn't his fault. His daughter, Leslie Goos,
had been responsible for handling his veteran's benefits of over $3,000
per month. But instead of paying her dad's bills, Goos went on a shopping
spree. In one year, she made over $30,000 in ATM withdrawals, and
wrote checks worth nearly $45,000-all with her dad's money and our
taxes.
But the story doesn't end there. While Goos was stealing from the
state, she was also working for the state. Goos worked for the Department
of Social & Health Services (DSHS) as a financial services specialist.
It was her job to decide who should get state money and benefits.
So how did DSHS punish someone who plead guilty to felony theft in
April 2002? Goos was simply reassigned to a new job in the department.
KING 5 News also learned that DSHS employees were aware of the Goos
investigation, but said nothing to Goos's supervisors. State law does
not allow that kind of information to be shared unless the perpetrator
is someone who has unsupervised access to vulnerable clients. Sounds
like it's time for legislation that empowers state employees to blow
the whistle when their co-workers break the law.
Click
here to visit the DSHS website and leave feedback, or call
800-737-0617.
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DVR
spends a bundle on itself
posted on 12/26/02 - WW12
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) within the
Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) has been in financial
trouble for some time. Last year there were employee layoffs and a
6,000-person waiting list for services. So how is the division's new
director, Mike O'Brien, budgeting for the recession? How about a $100,000
weekend staff retreat at a cozy resort lodge earlier this month, complete
with a nationally known comedian? Or maybe $260,000 worth of brand-new
Chevy Blazers for managers. And if that doesn't balance the books,
then maybe it's a good idea to add $750,000 worth of high-tech Dell
laptop computers for nearly every division employee. Mike O'Brien
thinks so. We think taxpayers will disagree. But hey, at least DVR
managers will look good in their new rides.
Click
here to view more details about this story on the EFF website.
You can contact DVR Director Mike O'Brien at obriend@dshs.wa.gov
or call 360-407-8010. You can also click
here to visit the DVR website and send them your thoughts.
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Fugitives
on welfare
posted on 12/18/02
- WW11
There are about 300,000 wanted felons in our state. And state
officials know exactly where to find many of them. But instead of
putting them away, they're sending them money. In the middle of a
$2 billion budget deficit, when other programs are suffering, the
Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) is sending welfare
checks to wanted men and women who are not eligible for benefits.
Last month, King 5 News compared DSHS welfare records with a list
of outstanding felony warrants from the Washington State Patrol. In
King County alone, they found 347 felons who were receiving welfare
checks. So why are these fugitives spending your money on borrowed
time? Because the two agencies don't share data base information.
Even more alarming, DSHS officials admit that state workers often
uncover a warrant for the arrest of a welfare recipient. But instead
of alerting authorities, the agency sits back and waits to hear from
police. "Information that may lead to the arrest of a felon is
not being readily shared," said King County Sheriff Dave Reichert.
Meanwhile, the fugitives continue to collect welfare.
DSHS employee Phyllis Lowe defended the agency's actions in a statement
to Fox News: "To deny a person the ability to eat or to get adequate
medical treatment when we're not sure exactly what's going on is a
complex issue."
So let's make it really simple. State law already requires the DSHS
to hand over fugitive addresses when asked. Common sense says they
also should be handed over when found.
3/27/03: Looks like DSHS is beginning
to feel the heat. They are now involved in a program with the Washington
State Patrol (WSP) to cross-check felony warrants against certain
benefit lists. As a result of an EFF inquiry, WSP is now considering
expanding the program to include benefit lists maintained by the departments
of Employment Security and Labor & Industry.
Contact Lt. Sean Hartsock of WSP and encourage
him to pursue this further. 360-570-5240.
Contact
Phyllis Lowe directly through email at lowepm@dshs.wa.gov
or call 360-413-3200. You can also click
here for the DSHS website, or call 800-737-0617.
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L&I for illegals
posted on 12/18/02
- WW10
In a recent written public statement, L&I
Director Gary Moore said, "The 1972 law that revamped Washington's
workers' compensation system is explicit: All workers must have coverage.
Both employers and workers contribute to the insurance fund. The Department
of Labor and Industries is responsible for protecting worker safety,
ensuring that all workers be paid at least the minimum wage and providing
workers with medical care and wage replacement when an injury or an
occupational disease prevents them from doing their job. The agency
has and will continue to do all that without regard to the worker's
immigration status."
But this is in blatant violation of state and federal law. State
law says, "Benefits shall not be paid...unless the alien
is...lawfully present...in the United States." And the federal
code prohibits anyone from encouraging an alien to reside unlawfully
in the United States. Arguably, providing free benefits will motivate
aliens to remain illegally.
Contact
L&I Director Gary Moore directly at 360-902-4203. You can also
click here
to visit the L&I website, call their main line at 800-547-8367,
or call their Report-a-Fraud hotline at 888-811-5974.
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Million dollar
squirrels
posted on 12/18/02 - WW09
Pierce County is about to decide if squirrels are worth about one
million dollars each. The county is studiyng options to help squirrels
cope with a new six-mile stretch of highway that would connect Spanaway
to Interstate 5 while crossing a squirrel habitat in remote areas
of Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base. Among the alternatives being
considered is a plan to elevate portions of the highway so the squirrels
can pass safely underneath. Estimated cost: $5 to $10 million. An
early 1990s survey found about 200 western gray squirrels in the area.
A similar survey in 1999 found only six. Sounds like something else
got to the little critters before motorists on the new highway even
had a chance.
Pierce
County is currently preparing an environmental impact statement. Meanwhile,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is being urged to include
the Western gray squirrel on the federal endangered species list.
You can click
here to visit the Pierce County Council website, or call them
at 800-992-2456. You can also click
here to visit the website for County Executive John W. Ladenburg,
email him at jladenb@co.pierce.wa.us
or call his office at 253-798-7477. You can email the U.S. FWS at
endangered@fws.gov
or click here
to visit their website.
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DSHS hires criminals
posted on 12/18/02 - WW08
A recent background check in the Department of Social & Health
Services (DSHS) found 27 employees with felony convictions for rape,
incest, assault, and other crimes. The disturbing news is that they
all work with vulnerable children and adults. At least they used to.
While 20 employees voluntarily quit when their criminal records were
discovered, the other seven were transferred to non-caregiving positions.
One worker in the welfare division was a registered sex offender.
Another at a juvenile corrections institution had convictions for
incest and the rape of a child. Agency officials tried to downplay
the discovery by pointing out the total number of employees who were
evaluated. Sure, 27 out of 13,000 isn't too bad! But try telling that
to a parent whose child was in harm's way.
Applicants for state jobs must answer the following question: "Have
you been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony within the past 10 years
that might unfavorably affect your fitness for this job?" But
according to DSHS officials, the question is too broad and subjective
to effectively screen potential employees. Are they surprised that
convicted rapists and registered sex offenders believe they're just
as fit as anyone else for the job? Why not just ask potential caregivers
if they've ever been convicted, period? Then state officials can hold
them accountable to a straight yes or no answer.
3/27/03: It seems DSHS still has
trouble finding good employees. The Seattle
Times reports the conviction
of a former DSHS employee on charges of third-degree rape and second-degree
extortion. Seems this ex-public servant told needy women they wouldn't
receive food stamps, medical coverage, or other welfare benefits if
they didn't comply with his demands.
Contact
DSHS Secretary Dennis Braddock at 360-902-7800. You can also click
here to visit the DSHS website or call 800-737-0617.
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Public funds private museum
posted on 12/18/02 - WW07
Two years ago, the state Transportation Improvement Board awarded
a $1 million grant to the Harold E. LeMay car museum. But that's nothing
compared to the $10 million in land, parking, and other improvements
kicked in by the Tacoma City Council last August. Construction on
the private museum could get the green light in the fall of 2003.
The museum will sport some of the nearly 3,000 cars that LeMay collected
during his lifetime. That means taxpayers have "donated"
more than $4,000 per car. But don't expect any free rides: the museum
will be open to paying customers in 2005.
It might
be too late to change their minds about the LeMay project, but at
least you can let the Tacoma City Council know how you feel about
future spending. Click
here to visit the Tacoma City Council website or call 253-591-5000.
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Seattle "discovers"
$34 million budget deficit
posted on 12/18/02 - WW05
If a manager at Starbucks was responsible for $34 million in overspending,
would his bosses tell the stockholders that he was still the best
man to manage their investment? Then how is Joseph Olchefske the best
man to fix the Seattle School District's newly discovered $34 million
deficit? He's the same guy who watched the red ink puddle up around
him for years. The same guy who fired principals and put kids in summer
school because he demanded accountability. But now that he's failed
as a supervisor, is he willing to meet his own standards? And even
more important, can the School Board explain to us why he's still
the best man for the job? Why is Olchefske still their pick to manage
our investment in the Seattle public schools?
12/19/02: The Seattle School District
hired an independent auditor, Seattle-based Moss Adams Advisory Services,
to investigate the cause of the $34 million deficit and recommend
ideas to avoid similar mistakes. The $200,000 audit will start in
January and take about 10 weeks. EFF will be very interested to see
how Moss Adams handles this task.
The School Board also appointed a 15-member
Fiscal Integrity Committee that will review the audit conclusions
and report to the board by April 1.
District administrators also reported that
$10.5 million has been trimmed from the projected $12 million budget
gap for the 2002-03 fiscal year.
You can
email the Seattle School Board at rtaylor@seattleschools.org
or call the district office at 206-252-0015. You can also click
here to visit the School Board website and find additional
contact information for individual board members.
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School officials
fail ethics exam
posted on 12/18/02 - WW04
Before Olchefske, there was Clover Park. A July 2000 state auditor's
report showed that the technical college was $1 million in the red.
Accounting personnel intentionally failed to pay $645,000 in bills
and then didn't record the liability. They used restricted state funds
to balance other accounts. College officials kept almost $300,000
in excess state money – and then tried to repay the money before
getting caught by under-reporting expenses that were reimbursed by
the state treasurer. They received duplicate payments of $450,000
to buy computers, and then claimed ignorance. Like nearly half a million
just snuck up on them unaware? Most bosses couldn't get an extra twenty
bucks into someone's paycheck without getting their attention, and
they'd certainly notice if they got paid twice. Worst of all, the
college is supposed to dedicate some of its tuition to financial aid,
but this money was spent elsewhere. The auditor's report didn't say
if any students missed out on financial aid. But it did show us that
Clover Park needs to add another class to the course catalog: Ethics
101 for School Officials.
Call Clover
Park Technical College at 253-589-5678 or click
here to visit the university website for further contact information.
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Superintendent gets
bought out for $320,000
posted on 12/18/02 - WW03
Just a few weeks ago, the Mukilteo School Board handed Gary Toothaker
$320,000 to walk away from his position as Superintendent because
he was romantically involved with the principal from Mariner High
School, an employee within the district he supervises. Not a bad deal
for Toothaker, he gets the girl and the cash. But it sounds like a
bad deal for us. School Board officials signed an agreement saying
they won't make "disparaging comments" about Toothaker.
Basically, they can't discuss the matter with the same public that's
paying Toothaker's buyout. Money isn't even the real issue; employee
buyouts are often very effective. The problem is a lack of public
accountability. The school board might have a few good reasons for
paying a man of questionable character that much money to leave. But
we have a right to know about these reasons when officials are up
for re-election. Public officials shouldn't be allowed to spend our
hard-earned money without telling us the whole story.
Email
School Board President Geoff Short at ShortGW@mukilteo.wednet.edu
or call 425-710-4420. You can also click
here to visit the Mukilteo Board of Directors website and
find additional contact information for individual board members.
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Multi-million dollar severance
package for convicted UW surgeon
posted on 12/18/02 - WW02
Dr. Richard Winn, one of the most prominent brain surgeons in the
country, will receive at least $970,000 to cut all ties with the University
of Washington (UW). He was trying to cover up several hundred thousand
dollars that were falsely billed by UW doctors to federal health plans
like Medicare and Medicaid. Winn instructed other doctors and staff
to lie when questioned by federal investigators. He even admitted
to creating an "atmosphere of fear and intimidation" within
his department. But instead of facing jail time, Winn will be allowed
to keep instructing doctors while doing 1,000 hours of community service
in exotic Nepal. He also will pay a $4,000 fine and repay $500,000
to government programs serving the poor and elderly. But the UW might
hold the cure to Winn's financial wound. They agreed to pay him $3.7
million just in case he has a tough time finding a new job. Sounds
like he should be doing tough time instead.
The real crime is that The UW Board of Regents urged U.S. District
Judge Robert Lansik to approve the plea bargain. And then Lansik urged
the state licensing board not to restrict or revoke Winn's license.
The government is afraid that Winn's research might go undone if he's
behind bars. They say he's too valuable to be locked away. They sound
like a coach who's afraid to bench a star player because the team
might suffer without him. But these are men and women who are paid
to make tough decisions, even when those choices hurt. They're paid
to hold people accountable. Instead, they allow physicians like Winn
to hide behind the shield of their preeminence. Winn gets off easy
because he's gifted. But real accountability demands equal treatment
under the law.
3/27/03: What's in the water at the
UW? Another prominent UW
doctor has pleaded guilty
to felony billing fraud, but unlike Dr. Winn, he is fighting to keep
his job. This comes a week after the Seattle Times reported that federal
prosecutors are accusing the UW
of destroying "damning
documents." Exactly what type of medicine are the good doctors
practicing at the UW?
You can
email the UW Board of Regents at regents@u.washington.edu
or call their office at 206-543-1633. You can also click
here to visit the Board of Regent's website and find additional
contact information for individual members. You can also email Governor
Locke at Governor.Locke@Governor.wa.gov,
call his office at 360-902-4111, or click
here to visit the governor's website. He appoints the UW Board
of Regents.
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Volunteers fix $1.6 million
local logjam for $8,000
posted on 12/18/02 - WW01
Last winter a 1,200 foot long, 60 foot wide, and 10 foot deep logjam
in the Deschutes River threatened 22 properties. Thurston County officials
spent more than $100,000 to figure out that it would take another
two months and $1.6 million to clean up the mess. Luckily for us,
the county decided that was too much to spend on private property.
So the neighborhood banded together and found their own solution.
They spent $8,000 and unclogged the river in less than three weeks.
They were able to keep costs low because many services were donated.
They were given a free hydraulic permit and found a jail work crew
to clear a roadway, a local logger who was willing to donate his time,
and a local church to cut wood for low-income families. For some reason
the county couldn't find a way to use these low-cost solutions. Maybe
they didn't look very hard. But maybe there's no incentive when they're
writing checks from someone else's account.
You can
call the Thurston County Commissioners' Office at 360-786-5440 or
click here to visit their website where you will find additional
contact information for individual members.
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