Opinion
PubliCola's 2011 Legislative Awards: Eve Harrington Award
Now that the session is finally over, PubliCola is rolling out our 2011 Legislative Session Awards. Last Friday, we handed out this session’s MVPs; on Monday we announced our award for best committee chairs; on Tuesday we named the best lobbyist; and yesterday we announced the award for best legislation.
On to the annual Eve Harrington Award.
This year’s award goes to the entire Democratic house caucus for sucking up to leadership at a critical moment when someone, anyone, needed to break ranks—even if it cost them their brownie points with the leadership team.
We apologize to the members of the caucus who don’t deserve this dubious honor, but a few bad eggs will ruin it for everyone: Caucus members who were in the know about the reasons behind Rep. Jim Jacks' (D-49, Vancouver) sudden resignation in March, but didn’t speak up, blemished the Democratic party’s supposed commitment to transparency. They also flubbed the big opportunity for a potent public service announcement that comes with any public resignation.
After a month of inquiries, Jacks himself eventually told the Columbian he was an alcoholic. When pressed by Columbian editor Lou Brancaccio about the possibility that there might have been inappropriate behavior connected to his drinking, Jacks said 'No.' Jacks did not return our call when we reported on his resignation and the house Democrats wouldn't give us more than a bland statement from Democratic House Majority Leader Rep. Pat Sullivan (D-47, Covington).
We expect a circle-the-wagons mentality from leadership when a member resigns under a dark cloud, but the Democratic legislators who decided that their need to stay in good stead with the higher-ups somehow outweighed their responsibility to the public blew it. Both for the Democratic party and for Jacks' constituents.
On to the annual Eve Harrington Award.
This year’s award goes to the entire Democratic house caucus for sucking up to leadership at a critical moment when someone, anyone, needed to break ranks—even if it cost them their brownie points with the leadership team.
We apologize to the members of the caucus who don’t deserve this dubious honor, but a few bad eggs will ruin it for everyone: Caucus members who were in the know about the reasons behind Rep. Jim Jacks' (D-49, Vancouver) sudden resignation in March, but didn’t speak up, blemished the Democratic party’s supposed commitment to transparency. They also flubbed the big opportunity for a potent public service announcement that comes with any public resignation.
After a month of inquiries, Jacks himself eventually told the Columbian he was an alcoholic. When pressed by Columbian editor Lou Brancaccio about the possibility that there might have been inappropriate behavior connected to his drinking, Jacks said 'No.' Jacks did not return our call when we reported on his resignation and the house Democrats wouldn't give us more than a bland statement from Democratic House Majority Leader Rep. Pat Sullivan (D-47, Covington).
We expect a circle-the-wagons mentality from leadership when a member resigns under a dark cloud, but the Democratic legislators who decided that their need to stay in good stead with the higher-ups somehow outweighed their responsibility to the public blew it. Both for the Democratic party and for Jacks' constituents.
