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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
 Posted - 03/25/2002 : 00:35:53
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http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/03/23/food.fight.ap/index.html
OLYMPIA, Washington (AP) -- 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.
Anyone here from Washington State? Can elected officials really be this shallow and silly? (Nevermind)
Well golly, since they'll just have to "live with it", I think I might have a suggestion. Let the military come in and set up a chow hall! Since time seems to be a real factor, I can attest that those folks can really move a line.
Lisa
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room.
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2002 : 01:18:15 [Permalink]
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Yes I am in Washington and I had heard about this. Words can't describe how pathetic this is. These same lawmakers have been dragging their heels on important issues for years and suddenly 75% of them come together for something as trivial as this...
I will be checking to see if my state senator signed it.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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Antie
Skeptic Friend
USA
101 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2002 : 01:37:46 [Permalink]
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>> 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. <<
All I have to say is: Aw! Poor babies.
Ian Andreas Miller. DIES GAUDII. |
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James
SFN Regular
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2002 : 06:16:53 [Permalink]
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[quote]Well golly, since they'll just have to "live with it", I think I might have a suggestion. Let the military come in and set up a chow hall! Since time seems to be a real factor, I can attest that those folks can really move a line.[/quote]
I agree with you, Lisa. Better yet, since they want their "privacy" time, why not set them up with a feed bag and they can eat in their bathrooms. Can't get no more private than that.
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your common sense." -Buddha |
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Mespo_man
Skeptic Friend
USA
312 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2002 : 07:25:26 [Permalink]
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"Let them eat cake." - Marie Antoinette
(:raig |
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Tokyodreamer
SFN Regular
USA
1447 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2002 : 07:56:01 [Permalink]
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Thoroughly disgusting.
It really shows how out of touch these people are, that they seem oblivious to how ridiculous this is, and how angry it will make most of the general public.
This is nothing new, however. If you really want to be disgusted, watch the U.S. House and Senate when there is a pay raise being considered (when they don't do it at 2am).
When a guy who makes ~ 130000USD a year (official and reported salary; yeah, that's all they make, right?!) gets up there and asked why his wife and one child must "do without" and "make sacrifices" because they haven't gotten the 3000USD per year raise yet, makes one see red.
(Yes, those are actual quotes from a member of the House)
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Sum Ergo Cogito |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2002 : 09:23:38 [Permalink]
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[quote]
[quote]Well golly, since they'll just have to "live with it", I think I might have a suggestion. Let the military come in and set up a chow hall! Since time seems to be a real factor, I can attest that those folks can really move a line.[/quote]
I agree with you, Lisa. Better yet, since they want their "privacy" time, why not set them up with a feed bag and they can eat in their bathrooms. Can't get no more private than that.[/quote]
Let the Marines set up the chow hall. See how much they like that chicken three days in a row at the end of the month.
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...no one has ever found a 4.5 billion year old stone artifact (at the right geological stratum) with the words "Made by God."
<i>No Sense of Obligation</i> by Matt Young |
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2002 : 11:05:24 [Permalink]
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[quote]
Let the Marines set up the chow hall. See how much they like that chicken three days in a row at the end of the month.
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...no one has ever found a 4.5 billion year old stone artifact (at the right geological stratum) with the words "Made by God."
<i>No Sense of Obligation</i> by Matt Young
[/quote]
Let's see if I remember this right. Day 1 is baked chicken. Day 2 is chow mein with chicken meat. Day 3 bring us fried chicken parts. Day 4 and/or 5 is fried chicken with extra-spicy sauce.
@tomic, how up in arms are the folks in your state? Are any of the senators trying to backpedal?
Lisa
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room. |
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transsexual
New Member
6 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2002 : 14:41:53 [Permalink]
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I'm from Wa State and will make sure none of the guys who signed that will get another vote from me.
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2002 : 15:25:10 [Permalink]
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They are trying to backpedal like you wouldn't believe. Some have said things like "Oh I wasn't paying attention and didn't realize what I was signing" and that was met with "Oh so is that how you vote on bills, too?"
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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