Waste Watchers Volume 1, Issue 5

Evergreen Freedom Foundation ^ | 12-1-05

[truth49]

Taxpayers expect and deserve a government that operates effectively, efficiently, and economically. These are the critical underpinnings of government accountability. So how are Washington's elected officials doing? Through Waste Watchers, EFF releases periodic news updates, or budget "diet tips," which highlight questionable uses of our tax dollars. When appropriate, we will also be sharing examples of elected officials who cut wasteful spending or otherwise save taxpayers money (highlighted in red).

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County audit rips code enforcement
Snohomish Herald, December 1, 2005
Officers who investigate junked cars, illegal bulldozing and noise complaints in Snohomish County need better focus, an audit says. With better direction, the county's worst offenders could be brought to justice more swiftly, and that would better satisfy taxpayers who file complaints.

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Audit blasts Basic Health Plan
Olympian, December 1, 2005
The state’s subsidized health plan for the working poor has flaws and is unable to show how well its participants are cared for, according to preliminary audit findings released Wednesday to a legislative committee.

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Resurrected health plan helps immigrants’ kids
Olympian, December 1, 2005
Restarting the Children's Health Program means children younger than 18 without U.S. citizenship who live in poverty-level families will be eligible for health coverage at no charge.

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A modest effort to limit liability
Seattle Times, December 1, 2005
General Rob McKenna is proposing legislation to limit the state's liability for acts by citizens who are under some kind of state supervision. The idea is reasonable. Too many plaintiffs have been reaching into the taxpayers' pockets with tenuous claims.

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NASCAR track financing unveiled
Seattle Times, December 1, 2005
A Florida racetrack developer wants $179 million in taxpayer money to build a NASCAR speedway near the Bremerton Airport. International Speedway Corp. (ISC) will pick up the remaining $166 million — or 48 percent — of the $345 million project costs.

Related Articles:

• Financing Plan Faces Skeptical Lawmakers, Kitsap Sun
• What's Next for Speedway Proposal, Kitsap Sun
• Local Lawmakers Say They're Skeptical, Kitsap Sun
• Money collected in Pierce County would go toward NASCAR track, Tacoma News Tribune

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Monorail accident caused by human error
Seattle PI, November 30, 2005
Human error caused the Seattle monorail accident. The inbound driver failed to yield to the other train at the point where the track are too close together for passing, officials said Wednesday.

Related Article:

• Operator Error In Monorail Crash?, KOMO 4

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Tax Money Leads To Politician's Front Door
KIRO 7, November 23, 2005
It starts at state coffers and ends at a foreign-owned power plant which pays the salary of an influential local legislator. It's money for a railroad segment that goes to just one place.

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For sheer audacity, schools' push for city's cash is brilliant
Seattle PI, November 22, 2005
Whatever else one might want to fault the Seattle school system for -- academic performance, planning, financial management -- one would certainly be prompted to award it high marks for brazenness, should it adopt a recent proposal floated by some politicians and the Seattle Education Association.

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Golf course projects frozen
Tacoma News Tribune, November 22, 2005
The Pierce County Council voted Monday to freeze spending on $19.1 million worth of projects related to the waterfront golf course under construction in University Place.

Related Article:

• Golf course flap could have been avoided, Tacoma News Tribune

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2 election losers are budget winners
Seattle PI, November 22, 2005
If you want a well-paying job in King County government, run for election against County Councilman Bob Ferguson -- and lose.

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Peak Performance Physical Therapy owner convicted of first-degree theft
WA L&I, November 21, 2005
The former owner of Peak Performance Physical Therapy will be sentenced Jan. 6, 2006, for overbilling the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) $375,000 for services his company didn’t provide to injured workers.

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