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Adam Wilson Blog
Adam Wilson expounds on Washington state government, workers and politics. Wilson began covering those issues for the Olympian in 2004. Previously, he reported on the Idaho Legislature and Eastern Washington politics for the Lewiston Morning Tribune. He can be reached at: awilson@theolympian.com.
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Political Editor
Brad Shannon
360-753-1688
bshannon@theolympian.com
Statehouse Reporter
Adam Wilson
360-753-1688
awilson@theolympian.com
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State workers' lost pension money, CEO's phat paychecks
I had this long thoughtful post ready on the continuing financial turmoil, but I think I'll let this story stand on its own. Just remember, when Lehman Brothers collapsed last month, it cost the public workers' retirement fund $130 million.
Richard S. Fuld Jr., chief executive officer of Lehman Brothers, declared to the (congressional) committee "I take full responsibility for the decisions that I made and for the actions that I took." He defended his actions as "prudent and appropriate" based on information he had at the time.
"I feel horrible about what happened," he said.
Waxman questioned Fuld on whether it was true he took home some $480 million in compensation since 2000, and asked: "Is that fair?"
Fuld took off his glasses, held them, and looked uncomfortable. He said his compensation was not quite that much.
"We had a compensation committee that spent a tremendous amount of time making sure that the interests of the executives and the employees were aligned with shareholders," he said. Fuld said he took home over $300 million in those years — some $60 million in cash compensation.
Waxman read excerpts from Lehman documents in which a recommendation that top management should forgo bonuses was apparently brushed aside. He also cited a Sept. 11 request to Lehman's compensation board that three executives leaving the company be given $20 million in "special payments."That request for $20 million in payments to executives came four days before the collapse of the company and subsequent report of a $130 million loss by the State Investment Board. A tiny fraction of the $78 billion fund, but the millions are adding into billions quite a bit lately.
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Olympians: Palin; Tacomans: Biden
The juges give 'em a 9.2 for sticking the landing, despite not doing much while in the air.
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DOH releases final medical pot rule
The Department of Health has issued its final word on what exactly constitutes a 60-day supply of medical marijuana.
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October surprise: angry Teamsters
With no contract and nine hours to go, prison employees plan to show up at governor's debate.
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Postma: Nix on bailout bill
Republican James Postma says the government should shore up the dollar, not bail out investment firms.
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Delavar: Congress shouldn't buy bad debt
Baird and Delavar don't agree on the war, don't agree on Wall Street bailout.
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Federation members approve contract
The Washington Federation of State Employees announces the vote on its contract.
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Dear: 'This is not a false alarm'
Public purchase of bad debt will be necessary to stop the credit crisis, says Joe Dear.
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WaMu hit to pensions: $47 million
After a $130 million loss, comes another round from Washington Mutual.
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UPDATED: Union contracts not guaranteed, paid family leave doomed?
Still, through the fog we see the figure of session 2009 approaching. What hasn't happened doesn't happen and all else is on the table.
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In Chocolate vs. Vanilla, Freedom always wins
How to watch a political debate with the public's eye.
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Rep. Alexander: leave state worker contracts alone
Alexander reiterated his long-standing position that reductions in state spending should be made through government doing less, not across-the-board cuts to worker benefits.
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McDermott on 'King Henry'
Rep. Jim McDermott suggests the Wall Street bail out will ensure a cushy landing for Bush employees looking for work in four months.
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Idaho Vandal cheerleaders, skimpy outfits
You know, Vice President in waiting Sarah Palin and I have the same degree from the U of I.
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Republican: state workers should pay more for insurance
If you're facing a $529 million drop in revenue projections, you might consider renegotiating state worker health benefits, Sen. Joe Zarelli says
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In slight turnabout, Oregonian opposes I-1000
The paper says there's no abuse of assited suicide in Oregon, but that's no reason for Washington to go down the same path.
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Assisted suicide: immoral?
Stop me if you've heard this one: a reporter talks to a rabbi, a nun, a philosopher, a doctor, an ethicist, and a professor.
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Updated: If a paystep is created, but no one is around ...
How do we know if pay Step M exists in the next biennium, if no one will qualify for it?
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Dear: government must stabilize home prices
"This is not magic. You can't lend money to people who can't pay it back."
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Teamsters agree to 2-plus-2 raises, with reopener
The union representing prison workers gets a shot at talking wages again next year.
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Taxpayers pay more than entire state pension fund
The public buyout of AIG cost more money than there is to pay for the retirement of all Washington public employees.
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Calamity on Wall Street all part of state plan
Stock market woes do impact retirement fund, but they're expected.
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Federation, guv reach tenative deal
Shortly after midnight, the Washington Federation of State Employees reached a two-year agreement with Gov. Chris Gregoire’s negotiators.
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"Hockey Mom" book outsells "Shock Doctrine" in Washington
What do our book-buying tendencies tell us about electoral politics?
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4-day week for CTED, DVA, others
Several state agencies and divisions will move a four-day work week under a plan announced Wednesday by Gov. Chris Gregoire.
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Insurance regulation not 'disastrous' yet
More insurance plans being offered, Kreidler declares victory for increased regulation.
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Fact checking I-1000
An examination of Oregon's data on who uses its Death with Dignity Law, and why, contradicts a few claims of anti-I-1000 campaign.
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Quick, to the conservatory!
The little glass conservatory near the Temple of Justice closes permanently in two hours, 4 p.m. Friday.
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Oh, good: state picks up fed's tab on highways
People drive less, pay less gas tax, the feds stiff the states for their share of road project costs.
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The new, old McCain
Sen. John McCain sought to cast himself as the humble servant saved by America, not the savior of America.
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Federation still working on pay raises
WFSE still hopes to beat the 1.6-percent mark set by another union for next year's pay raise.
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Gregoire on Palin
Gregoire isn't that different from Palin, so why is one ready to be VP and not the other?
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Delavar persona non grata with GOP
Candidate in 3rd Congressional District is passed up for endorsement, again.
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Not much basking, plenty of battle from Obama
The media coverage was trying to put Obama in his proper historical context as the first black man to win a major party nomination, but Obama used the time for offense.
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Kreidler: at least I’m younger than that old guy
Asked Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who's been in that office for two terms and will be 65 by election time, if this is the last round-up.
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Factchecking I-985 vs. congestion audit
While one could argue Eyman is not following best practices when it comes to traffic management, but his knack for knowing what the voters will approve is pretty well established.
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First state worker contract: 1.6, 1.7 percent
The WPEA comes to terms first with the governor's bargaining team.
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No deals yet in union talks
Talks between the state and state unions continue, possibly for another two weeks.
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Eight same-party races for November, 12 'close' races
Looks like eight out of 124 legislative races will be one-party contests, but that isn't the same list as close races.
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Smith: troop surge hurt Afghanistan
Rep. Smith says the troop surge wasn't quite worth the resources it took.
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MacDonald on the performance audit that haunts him
Former transportation secretary fought performance audits, but came to be a student of one.
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Results: anti-war Delavar vs. pro-surge Baird
Looks like Republican Michael Delavar's anti-war platform worked.
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Gregoire, Rossi: We totally tried
Despite months of campaigning and millions spent, neither the Democrat nor the Republican predict victory.
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'Whatever you want to do as an American, you can do it'
It's primary election day, so get your patriotism on.
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Family leave computer: even more risk
Already running from behind on building the system, the Employment Security Department tries to get around the hiring freeze.
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Strange funding saves tax credit computer
Will the hiring freeze derail the tax credit computer system underway? No, because it is not expected to be used.
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Somebody tranq Don Brunell!
Can you imagine the size of the federal deficit? What, do you want a stroke?
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Florida takes DSHS calls for a spell
The right phone number was sending people to the wrong state for health insurance questions earlier this week.
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Lightning has struck my brain
Why don't we add initiatives to the primary, so we can narrow them down to the top two vote getters for November?
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Darn the hiring freeze, food stamps ahead
The state food stamps program had been counting on 28 new people to help it expand to more hungry families, but it'll make do without the help if it has to.
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We are not making this up, LA
The Los Angeles Times reports on Hanford's incredulous coversion to a tourist destination.
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This could be awkward
The federation likes Gregoire over Rossi, and wants a pay raise. Which is why Rossi doesn't like the two as a pair.
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Debt collection: The performance audit
A performance audit on collection of debt says eight agencies can do more.
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Where the voters are not
All representatives have the same general number of citizens to represent, but registered voters? Another story.
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Revenue continues its slide
The latest monthly report on tax collections is in and it is down, to the tune of $60 million.
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And now, a message from Tybalt
And talk of peace! I hate the word. As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.
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Humanity's true driving force revealed
Good sams donate school supplies to military kids, grandmothers continue push for more school children.
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