(WA) EFF Releases Performance Audits Pledge Scorecard

Evergreen Freedom Foundation ^ | 5-10-05 | Booker Stallworth

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Today, the Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF) released its Performance Audits Pledge Scorecard, comparing the promises made by candidates for the Washington state legislature against the actions taken by those individuals once in office. Nineteen (19) pledge signers violated their pledge, costing taxpayers their first real chance at truly independent, comprehensive performance audits.

Last year, seventy legislators signed the Performance Audits Pledge, which read in-part: "I pledge to support independent, comprehensive performance audits of state agencies. The scope of performance audits should be established by the elected state auditor, not an unelected group of citizens appointed by the governor and legislature."

Though the legislature approved a "performance audit" bill (ESHB 1064), the final bill did not encompass all four of the major components of effective performance audits: independent audit authority vested in the independently elected state auditor and comprehensive examining of all of state government with public reporting and dedicated funding.

Votes were taken, however, on amendments which would have corrected the flaws in the performance audit bill. In the House, Rep. Mike Armstrong offered such an amendment. It failed by two votes. Senators Pam Roach and Bill Finkbeiner offered amendments in the Senate—both failing by a single vote each. These amendments met the requirements of true, independent, comprehensive performance audits of state government, and a vote in support of these amendments would have satisfied the EFF Performance Audit Pledge. [Click here to view the complete roll calls on these key votes.]

EFF Communications Director Booker Stallworth, who oversaw the Performance Audit Pledge campaign, voiced disappointment in those 19 legislators who failed to keep their pledge commitment.

“These performance audits are having a powerful impact across the nation. In California, recently completed performance reviews identified $32 billion in waste and mismanagement that could be saved over the next five years. In Texas, performance audits have identified $16 billion in potential savings in the past decade,” said Stallworth. “It’s a shame the failure of 19 legislators to keep their word has denied the people of this state the benefit of truly independent, comprehensive performance audits.”

According to Stallworth, the failure of the legislature to deliver on performance audits makes a successful initiative campaign inevitable.

"Had just three of the 19 pledge–signers who voted against the amendments honored their pledge, an initiative to the people would have been unnecessary,” said Stallworth. “As it stands now, Initiative 900 is the only proposal remaining that grants the office of the state auditor the authority needed to enact these cost-saving audits.”

The Evergreen Freedom Foundation is a non-partisan, public policy watchdog organization, focused on advancing individual liberty, a free-market economy, and limited and responsible government. The Foundation's membership includes members of all major political parties, united in the desire to ensure that taxpayer-funds are spent wisely.

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Additional Information

• Pledge Scorecard
• Roll Call Votes used in Evaluating Pledge Signers