Posted on 03/23/2002 1:39:02 AM PST by ATOMIC_PUNK
OLYMPIA, Wash. March 23 2002
A $100 million Capitol renovation means Washington state senators will temporarily lose their private dining room and French chefs, and have to eat the same food served to the public.
The response to the news was swift and resounding.
"This is unacceptable," wrote Sen. Don Benton, a Republican, in a letter signed by 36 of the 49 state senators. "We as members of the Senate have come to look forward to the quality food prepared by Jean-Pierre and Kerri, as well as the quiet camaraderie of our fellow Senators in a private setting."
During the renovation, the senators will be sharing a small lunchroom in the state library building with House members, who are also being displaced by the construction.
They will also be losing the services of restaurant owners Jean-Pierre and Kerri Simon, who cook for the Senate when it's in session.
A lot of senators see that as a stinging blow. Last week, while writing a budget that cut $685 million in services and laid off hundreds of state workers, the Senate honored its chefs with a standing ovation.
Benton and co-signers defended their food fight.
"My lunch breaks are typically 15 minutes to half an hour, then I have appointments," said Democratic Sen. James Hargrove. "The point for me is to have some peace and quiet."
The temporary legislative lunchroom will have room for only about 40 people, well short of the 147-seat capacity needed to seat every lawmaker in both chambers.
That, on top of having to eat the same kind of food served to the general public, has some senators frustrated.
TV commentator Ken Schram suggested voters kick complaining lawmakers out of office so "the only private dining those senators will have to fret over will be a booth at Denny's."
"Education just got clobbered in the state budget," said schools advocate Lisa Macfarlane of Seattle after stifling a laugh. "If it took a private dining room for them to come up with a long-term solution, we'd cook."
Senators who did not sign the letter suggested that demanding a private lunchroom and chefs may be a bit unseemly for public servants.
"It's very poorly timed at a time we're asking state employees to do more with less," Senate Minority Leader Jim West, a Republican, told The Olympian newspaper, which first reported the letter. "When we're asking other state workers to be frugal ... we should be, too."
Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, a former senator who now presides over the Senate, said he sympathizes with lawmakers who want a private sanctuary during hectic days.
"But the situation is such that we have to make some sacrifices," said Owen, who has been working on plans for the Legislature's temporary home. "We're going to have to live with it."
Some senators have talked about driving lawmakers to Jean-Pierre's Garden Room, the Simons' restaurant. Tom Cook, the Senate secretary, said he and facilities committee members are trying to solve the space problem but shuttling members to a restaurant isn't on the menu.
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And what responce would that be? were not allowed to show disgust in elected officials?
Let them eat cake!!
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