Jolt
Afternoon Jolt: Pelz Slams McKenna
No winner or loser today, but certainly a jolt.
The very quotable Dwight Pelz, chair of the Washington State Democratic Party, capitalized on the the news, reported by PubliCola, that the King County Young Republicans threw a Democratic staffer (with a video camera) out of AG (and 2012 Republican gubernatorial candidate) Rob McKenna's talk last night at the North Bellevue Community Center. Here's the video:
"You're the AG speaking in a public place," Pelz says, "Get over it." Asked about what McKenna told PubliCola last night—that the law says a private group renting a room has every right to boot someone---Pelz said, "He's wrong. The parks department permit is clear on this. Our guy had every right to be there."
Pelz sent out an official statement contrasting McKenna's record of press release quotes about prioritizing open records and public meetings with last night's flap.
McKenna, who successfully argued in the US Supreme Court that R-71 (the anti-domestic-partner law referendum) signatures were public records, does, in fact, have an impressive record on open government.
The very quotable Dwight Pelz, chair of the Washington State Democratic Party, capitalized on the the news, reported by PubliCola, that the King County Young Republicans threw a Democratic staffer (with a video camera) out of AG (and 2012 Republican gubernatorial candidate) Rob McKenna's talk last night at the North Bellevue Community Center. Here's the video:
"You're the AG speaking in a public place," Pelz says, "Get over it." Asked about what McKenna told PubliCola last night—that the law says a private group renting a room has every right to boot someone---Pelz said, "He's wrong. The parks department permit is clear on this. Our guy had every right to be there."
Pelz sent out an official statement contrasting McKenna's record of press release quotes about prioritizing open records and public meetings with last night's flap.
As attorney general, Rob McKenna tried to position himself as a champion of open records, open meetings, and government that acted with full public disclosure. Last night's actions prove that he doesn't believe those principles apply to him as attorney general or as a candidate for governor.
McKenna, who successfully argued in the US Supreme Court that R-71 (the anti-domestic-partner law referendum) signatures were public records, does, in fact, have an impressive record on open government.
