The battle over whether or not taxpayers should continue funding the increasing costs of renovating the PacMed Center—an aging building in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood—continues between Republicans and Democrats in Olympia. As Shift reported, House Democrats are having a hard time understanding the maxim about not “throwing good money after bad” and included another $6 million in their 2015-17 budget proposal earmarked for the purpose of helping to pay for the growing costs of renovating the PacMed Center.
The description, “growing costs” is an understatement when considering the PacMed Center. The costs of renovating the building has more than doubled to $54.3 million (from the initial $24 million assessment) since the state leased it for more than 30 years in a controversial deal demanded by Democrat state House Speaker Frank Chopp in 2013. Chopp essentially told Senate negotiators that year that there would be no adjournment until he got his way on the building.
Poor excuses for the rising costs include “unanticipated” problems associated with the building, ranging from mold found behind walls to the need to comply with the most recent version of Seattle’s energy code. The difficulty with these excuses is that these problems should have been anticipated. The state should have taken into account the fact that it is dealing with a building that is more than 100 years old prior to entering into a 30-year lease.
Unfortunately, Chopp was running the show. So, the state bowed to his demands and made the deal—a deal that never made sense to reasonable objectors. The Seattle Times,
“‘The deal never made sense,’ said Rodney Tom, the former state Senate majority leader. He opposed the $20 million earmark for the PacMed Center during budget talks two years ago but said Chopp insisted it be part of the final budget package.
“‘Frank doesn’t care how much money it loses because all the money from the lease goes to Seattle social services,’ said Tom, a Medina Democrat who defected to lead a Republican-dominated Senate majority coalition until his term ended in 2014. ‘In the end, the Washington state taxpayer gets hung out with a terrible deal.’”
Chopp’s insistence over the deal begs the question of why he was—and is still today—so determined to fund the PacMed Center. A little digging delivers all the answers needed and insight into who really benefits from Chopp’s deal.
The taxpayer-subsided tenants of the PacMed Center include Chopp’s wife and daughter. Chopp’s wife, Nancy Long, is the Executive Director of 501 Commons, a non-profit that does back-office support for other non-profits. In December 2014, the new home of 501 Commons became the 11th floor of… the PacMed Center.
Chopp’s daughter, Ellie Chopp, is the Grants Coordinator at Pacific Hospital PDA. That means she has the privilege of spending the money raised by building. Essentially, Chopp makes sure he brings in taxpayer dollars and his daughter spends it.
Like so many other Democrats, Chopp’s determination is based on self-interest. For Chopp, the state’s 30-year PacMed lease is his friends-and-family plan. He is using taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars to pay for his “framily” plan, giving a whole new meaning to Sprint’s coverage options.
It is obviously an outrage throwing good money after bad. I typically vote Democrat. “Like so many other Democrats, Chopp’s determination is based on self-interest.” I sure am glad Republican’s are so pure. Facts are facts. Bias is bias. Y’all took away my outrage. I guess I’ll move on to a site less with less bias.
Go ahead and move on to a site less with less bias, whatever that means. You won’t be missed trying to deflect criticism onto Republicans for this turd’s corruption.
So, any word on when King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, a lifelong Republican, will unseal indictments? Failing that, have any House Republicans filed ethics complaints with our state government?
Or is this a completely legal and ethical arrangement, mis-used as the basis for partisan attacks from Speaker Chopp’s embittered and failed political enemies?
So, what are the indictments currently pending against Sen. Baumgartner, sealed or unsealed? (Other than your stretch to be relevant, of course) Failing that, has anybody filed ethics complaints with our state government on this matter? Or is this a completely legal and ethical use of Washington State transportation funds to build a road in Washington State, lamely mis-used as the basis for partisan attacks from a loser like you?
So, what are the indictments currently pending against Sen. Baumgartner, sealed or unsealed?
Has anyone accused him of doing anything illegal or unethical?
(Other than your stretch to be relevant, of course)
Yes, it would seem your stretch has failed you here.
Failing that, has anybody filed ethics complaints with our state government on this matter? Or is this a completely legal and ethical use of Washington State transportation funds to build a road in Washington State …
Of course it is, and you haven’t quoted anyone saying it isn’t. I happen to believe that tax expenditures need to be justified, and that politicians shouldn’t brag about spending other people’s money. You’re free to disagree on both points, of course.
Now, no more deflection or denial:
So, any word on when King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, a lifelong Republican, will unseal indictments? Failing that, have any House Republicans filed ethics complaints with our state government?
Or is this a completely legal and ethical arrangement, mis-used as the basis for partisan attacks from Speaker Chopp’s embittered and failed political enemies?
“If Senator Baumgartner wants to make an economic case for a new freeway
in Spokane, I’ll hear him out. If he just keeps on screaming like a
toddler for his nanny state to give him a new toy freeway, I’ll give him
the treatment screaming toddlers deserve”
Of course this might be a highly partisan attack from Frank Chopp’s bitter and failed political allies?
I’m willing to hear him out. How many posts at this site give their liberal targets the benefit of the doubt?
Do you approve of a politician bragging about spending other people’s money? Do you believe we taxpayers deserve an explanation for why we’re spending this billion dollars on Spokane, when we have so many transport needs across our state?
“I’m willing to hear him out”
How magnanimous of you.
“A screaming toddler needs to be taught, gently yet firmly, that his
screaming fit will not be rewarded, and he might lose other things he
values. For Sen. Baumgartner, that means no shiny new freeway until he
tells us why he needs it, and maybe no seat in the majority next cycle
if he keeps screaming”
Sounds like it definitely would be a fair, impartial and unbiased hearing at that. You must have applied the same standards to the Choppster in 2013 when in a hissy fit, he threatened to delay adjournment until taxpayers funded his relatives lifestyle, no? Of course not. This is how that hearing went: “He has a (D) after his name? It HAS to be a great idea! I’m all in!”
How magnanimous of you.
It’s my tax money he’s trying to spend.
Sounds like it definitely would be a fair, impartial and unbiased hearing at that.
We wealth-creating taxpayers are tough, but fair, yes. (Even when dealing with tax-spending moochers.) Remember that Washington state has many transportation challenges; is spending a billion dollars on a new road in Spokane the very best use of that money right now? That’s the question we need to have answered.
You must have applied the same standards to the Choppster in 2013 when in a hissy fit, he threatened to delay adjournment until taxpayers funded his relatives lifestyle, no?
Your only source for that statement was one of the embittered political failures I mentioned elsewhere. Try citing someone who does not have both political and personal axes to grind.
What “wealth-creating taxpayers” are you talking about? You? What a joke. Capitalists create wealth. Communists create equal misery. Now you’re saying you’re a bourgeois capitalist pig? The guy that never saw a tax/regulation/mandate he didn’t drool over? What “wealth” have you created, comrade? Outside of a wealth of government control, that is.
What “wealth-creating taxpayers” are you talking about?
The ones in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, who provide 60% of the state’s tax revenues — you know, the money Sen. Baumgartner is openly bragging about spending on a freeway in Spokane county.
Now you’re saying you’re a bourgeois capitalist pig?
Well, I prefer the term “shareholder,” but yours has a certain ring to it. 🙂
The guy that never saw a tax/regulation/mandate he didn’t drool over?
You know my entire voting record on tax initiatives? I thought we had secret ballots here!
“I prefer the term shareholder”
I’m sure you do. Leftists always use warm, fuzzy euphemisms to hide their true intentions.
“You know my entire voting record on tax initiatives?”
Why yes I do. Though the ballots may be secret, your posts aren’t. And you summed up the difference between Sen. Baumgartner and Rep. Chopp perfectly: Sen Baumgartner open about building a freeway, the Choppster secretive about using tax dollars to fund his relatives lifestyle
WTF? How many more years of your life do you plan on wasting your tax dollars on liberal tax & spend policy that will eventually cost you your retirement? Go move on to franksballpolishers.com like a good little underling. Holy $hit!
Frank Chopp is a farm animal.
Must be on a weasel farm.
You know, there are good and bad in both parties. I am conservative and believe if you don’t have the money you don’t spend it. The selfishness and greed need to go, the lies need to stop, but I’m afraid it has gotten so bad it’s all here to stay and the lowly people at the bottom will pay and pay and pay. These people work for us, we don’t work for them !! But that’s how they’ve turned it. We need to take a stand people !!