Posted on 09/29/2004 12:10:44 PM PDT by truth49
In a troubling blow to open government, the elected state auditor is being denied access to records necessary to hold Washington state government accountable to the people. While the difficulty with which some agencies have in providing access to public records is well documented (please see EFF PH 14-14), perhaps even more disturbing to the cause of open and accountable government is the opposition the state auditor's office (SAO) is encountering in its efforts to audit and review the conduct of state government.
This fact is illustrated by the following comments from SAO's 2003 Statewide Accountability Report under the caption "Current Audit Challenges":
"In some cases, agencies have resisted our requests for access to data. Sometimes this has occurred through delays in providing the information; other times, we have been required to go through lengthy request processes, including the signing of detailed confidentiality agreements. Some agencies have attempted to require us to pay for the information.
Generally agencies have used confidentiality issues related to clients' personal information or the cost of providing the information as reasons for denying or delaying our records requests. However, our employees are required to maintain confidentiality regarding all audit procedures and results during the course of an audit and are aware of the on-going need for confidentiality regarding personal data, in accordance with the Governor's Executive Order 00-03, Public Records Privacy Protections.
In addition, charging us for information would be counter-productive because the charges would be added on to the audit bill. No private entity engaging a firm to audit the entity's records would charge the auditor to obtain those records."
This unacceptable behavior by some state agencies is occurring despite the explicitly clear intent of Governor Gary Locke's 00-03 executive order on public records privacy:
(Excerpt) Read more at effwa.org ...
Anyone know what party the folks involved belong to?
Auditor isn't much use if can't audit.
More guvmint crap, and we keep eating the crap sandwiches.
Isn't the governor a shill for Beijing or something?
Brian Sonntag, the State Auditor, is a Democrat, but he's well respected on both sides of the isle as being a good Auditor, it's not a very partisan job unless you really want to make it one.
The R's accidentally let a nutcase on the ballot to oppose him, and several big name local conservatives have already endorsed Sonntag.
Just FYI, don't know anything about the case.
ping
Typically corrupt machine Democrats at work.
Generally, I would give the Auditors office high marks. Sometimes a specific auditor will try to "make a name for themselves" for finding problems were problems don't exist.
There are some real confidentiality issues that do need to be handled carefully. However, I would like to know more about the specifics of this complaint. Actually, I kind of wonder if perhaps the Auditor wasn't auditing our democratic hack Attorney General's office and told to go elsewhere that it was all protected by attorney client priveledge. Our Attorney General is running for Governor and she has had some really horible problems associated with running the Attorney General's office. There was one DSHS case where they failed to file paperwork in time and lost a multi-million dollar legal case on a default judgement because the failed to file any paperwork. One local newspaper dug and found out that she tried to cover it up by re-writing parts of the "independent outside investigation."
The state is out of control, we need a new governor and attorney general.
Only 3 1/2 commie rat counties have a hold on this state. Snohomish, King, Pierce and (1/2) Thurston. It's so bad that the other 38 1/2 counties voted to succeed from the state but they couldn't even get that passed.
Only 3 1/2 commie rat counties have a hold on this state. Snohomish, King, Pierce and (1/2) Thurston. It's so bad that the other 38 1/2 counties voted to succeed from the state but they couldn't even get that passed.
Brian Sonntag is an excellent State Auditor - we would be hard pressed to find someone to take the flak he has had to endure while doing his job. The two most resistant agencies to audits are the Attorney General's office and DSHS. Their stonewalling tactics and outright obstruction of any investigations by Sonntag's office are legendary in Olympia - particularly in the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee (chared by Senator Val Stevens of the 39th District). I have sat through countless committee hearings where DSHS and the Attorney General's office were characterized as completely uncooperative with any efforts to obtain information. Complaints of abuse and mismanagement abound. The Senate tries to get to the bottom of these, but the two largest and most powerful agencies in the state just refuse to answer. Time for a clean sweep - let's get Governor Rossi in there. He'll take action.
Just a comment. I have designed capital and maintenance projects for both DSHS and DOC.
Believe it or not, I have found that DSHS facilities and capital projects staff to be some of the best and most interested in real bottom-line cost effectiveness, I have run into.
I know that it is hard to believe considering their history with social service litigation. However, I have found constantly budget strapped DSHS facilities managers and capital project managers to make some of the best financial choices as to the projects they should be doing to lower overall facilities costs. From what I have seen they are as good or better than many private sector clients my firm has. I know it is not the image one would have of DSHS, but that part of the organization seems to be well run, from what I have seen up-close and personal.
DOC facilities can range from very good to OK, depending upon the specific facilities and the staff involved.
I suspect that the DOC/DSHS problems you spoke of are based on the "people control" culture that both organizations have and its clash with how things need to be done in the real world.
Only here in the great state of Washington. Lunacy rules.
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