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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Just who the f_ck are these state senators that don't want to eat "what the general public gets"? You'd think that they all turned into Maria Cantwell somehow. I'd be willing to bet that less than 10% of the voters here in Washington could even name their state senator - I can't. So these state legislators have an ego that fits Hillary - not some low paid state hack.
Here's another item that should gripe anyone who lives in this state: Washington's current investment portfolio is valued at over $60 billion. Yes, that's billion. That's thirty years worth of the state budget. Think of that the next time they want to raise our taxes. Who the hell authorized our state to spend our tax money on an investment portfolio? What are they going to do with it? Who profits? What about "the general public"????
"I regret that I have but one knife to give for my entree".
Patrick Henry's younger brother, Emille, a woefully misinformed elitist, who thought he was the important brother in the family.
I'm welling up at the realization of the gastronomic sacrifices these servants of the public are willing to make. Should we send Lipton Cup of Soup to sustain these brave leaders through their time of crisis??
"I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I read the article about how your senators are so upset about temporarily losing their French chefs and private dining room. They actually have to dine with the common folk, poor babies!
"One is reminded of Marie Antoinette's arrogant remark, "Let them eat cake." They are totally out of touch with the American people. Don't think I won't keep this in mind if any of them decide to run for federal level offices."
Carolyn Hart
Versailles, Missouri
A meal fit for a king, and since no refrigeration or complicated preparation is necessary, they can be eaten at the desk of these royal senators so they they do not have to interact with the hoi polloi. King Oscar sardines are rich in Omega-3's and the olive oil it is packed in is very good for you as well. Just add soda crackers and a mug of stout and you got yourself a meal.
Just $2.39 a tin at your local supermarket. Send your page over to get a case of them now.
The humanity of it all. How will their poor colons take it. Imagine having to eat regular people food
I'm shocked the people of Washington State would not take better care of their Lords and Ladies table fair.
Maybe we should conduct ourselves a little investigation...?
Who decided that these crying morons deserve anything better than the public who elected them.
My advise "LET THEM EAT CAKE"
Stupid fu#@*^* crybabies.
aughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
There's really nothing more intimate and peaceful than a lunch group of 49.
A standing ovation for their French chefs while they're laying off state workers? The arrogance of these publicly elected SOBs is beyond comprehension. Ya got an email address for Lt. Gov. Brad Owen? I don't live in WA but I'd like to ream him on this anyway.
Eating MRE's for 45 days straight in Afghanistan sucked. All of us would have killed for a stinkin hamburger.
How did we as a nation ever sink so low as to allow do-nothing elitist scumbags like that to represent us?
That place needs an enema
I'll bet you lucky folks out there in Washington get to have your tax dollars taken from you so these "servants of the people" can eat in a free private dining room and eat gormet food prepared by a top French chef.
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