The Evergreen Freedom Foundation released the list of the state's gubernatorial and legislative candidates who signed (or not) the Performance Audit Pledge (calling for all state agencies to have their performance audited by the state's elected auditor). The list of candidates and their position on the Performance Audit Pledge is here.
Commend those candidates who signed the pledge. Reject those candidates who refused (unless they also state a compelling reason for refusing to sign). Ask tough questions of the candidates who declined to take a stand.
Of the three major gubernatorial candidates, Republican Dino Rossi is the only one who signed the pledge.
Democrat Ron Sims, who has publicly rejected the entire concept of government accountability, didn't bother to respond. Democrat Christine Gregoire, who has badly mismanaged the Attorney General's office, refused to sign the pledge but didn't cite any substantive reasons. She only launched a dishonest ad hominem attack on an organization that isn't mentioned anywhere in the pledge:
I wholeheartedly support the use of audits. In fact, as Attorney General, I have used AGMAP—Attorney General Management Accountability Project—to track dollars and manage the priorities of the Attorney General’s office in all its activities. As governor, I want to expand this exciting technology throughout the entire state government.The Performance Audit Pledge has nothing to do with minimum wage laws or "rolling back civil rights". A number Democrats in the state legislature, including House Speaker Frank Chopp, signed the pledge. The Democratic Leadership Council has made performance audits a high priority.However, I respectfully decline to sign this pledge from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Among the positions ALEC has advocated are efforts to roll back civil rights, eliminate state minimum wage laws and oppose environmental protections. I do not believe that this is the right direction for Washington. Since I do not support ALEC’s goals and philosophies, I cannot sign my name in support of ALEC. Nevertheless, I thank you for this opportunity to reiterate my support of audits and the AGMAP technology.
Gregoire's rejection of independent performance audits is yet another indication that she is only interested in managing state government for the convenience of its employees, and not for the benefit of the people.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at August 11, 2004 11:24 AM | Email ThisMy personal politics are fairly left-of-center however I belive that if you are going to spend the people's money you have to be accountable to the people for how you do it. The recent fiscal disaster with the Seattle School District and the longstanding swamps of mismanagement and fraud surrounding agencies like the Liquor Control Board and DSHS point to why even those of us on the left should be enthusiastic supporters of performance audits.
I know at one time our State Auditor Brian Sontag was seemingly the lone advocate among elected officials for performance audits (indeed it was the signature issue of his initial campaign for that office). I hope that he continues to believe in performance audits and that more of our state's elected officials come around to his point of view.
Posted by: Chris Stefan on August 12, 2004 12:35 PMIf a cop can't take a bribe without severe penalties. Why are lobbiests able to give goodies and money to elected officials.
Performance audits need to be done for every agency and made public.
Is a tax on anything ever lowered or eliminated.
Is there anything that isn't taxed.
Even taxes are taxed. Ways and means has no limit on the hand in our pocket.
Posted by: Jack McCullough on August 13, 2004 07:52 PM