Still trying to wrap my head around this one. Joe Turner of the News-Tribune has an article posted about the death of SB 5964, which had something or other to do with asbestos lawsuits. Some mean lawyers ran newspaper ads trying to stop changes to the bill, so the Senate has apparently just spiked it. Or at least that’s what it sounds like from Turner’s report. Check out this bit:
The targeted senators lay most of the blame on a former colleague, Brian Weinstein, a Mercer Island lawyer who until December had been a Democratic senator representing King County’s Eastside communities. Weinstein is now a member of Bergman Draper & Frockt, the Seattle law firm that paid for the ads and which has been lobbying for passage of the bill.
“In four years, he (Weinstein) never really learned a thing about how this place works,” Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, said Saturday. Hatfield was supporting a couple changes that Kastama and Haugen wanted to make to the original bill, changes that Weinstein’s firm did not want.
How “this place” works is this: Not only did the senators kill SB 5964, they also killed the so-called Homeowners Bill of Rights, a measure that Weinstein had championed for most of term in the Legislature and which he nearly got passed. It passed the Senate, but died in the House.
Let’s review how being a citizen works in this state, shall we?
Citizens bring up needed consumer protection legislation, and then it never ever ever ever fucking gets passed.
Geebus. Notice how the Legislature doesn’t ever pass bills, especially consumer protection bills, in retaliation for over the top political advertising (cough cough BIAW cough cough.)
Democrats: a circular firing squad of cats who won’t be herded towards a gun safety class where free tuna is being served.
Speaking of gun safety classes:
Liberals told to leave
An instructor for a hunter safety course orders Obama voters to get out of his class.
By RANDY KREHBIEL Tulsa World Staff Writer
Published: 3/7/2009 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 3/7/2009 3:06 AM
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news.....20090307_1…
The comments make it particularly interesting!
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news.....irte948209
I’ve been working a homeowners’ warranty bill w/Rep Lar Springer in the lead for over a year. It’s a lot more complicated issue to “solve” than Rep. Weinstein would have you think. There’s a very complicated flowchart on the whiteboard in my office, charting different existing causes of action, different consumer protections already in place. We needed to IMPROVE on the situation, not just layer a new cause of action on top of the already-confusing mess.
Sen Tom had a companion bill, with some different language that involves a mid-construction inspection, I think, in the Senate. Hopefully, our bill will go to the Senate, get amended, and we’ll lay this issue to rest – finally. IMHO: Weinstein actually DELAYED resolution of this important consumer protection issue by his obstinancy.
Jon: I know it’s awfully entertaining to just bash us, but if you’re in Oly, do stop by and check out the whiteboard in my office.
Jon, why the crocodile crybaby tears? It’s Democratic stiffing democratic. That’s why it’s called FUWA.
And what would that be Brian Hatfield?
– Knee pads?
– Cronyism?
– ASS Kissing?
– Lobbyists cum first? … Oops that’s Obama
– Kissing the Blarney Stone?
– Wait your turn rookie?
– The Leadership decides best?
– Does it promote WA State Union thought?
You Democratics own the legislature, senate and guvnur orifices. Cry me a river.
Deb, Jon likes to make mountains out of molehills. Again, Allen Stanford likes conservatives anyone?
Yeaaaaaaaaaah baby!
How can you complain if the Dems control every elected body in the state? Sounds like some introspection is in order.
Dear Morons like Puddy and Politically stupid:
Unlike the republicans (who march in lockstep and bootjack to Rush) – we can and do actually criticize our own. I know that must be amazing to the simple minded – but is is simply true.
Secondly, the lobbying and political arm of the BIAW has a long reach in this state – especially for more rural democrats (Raymond, for instance).
Third, the bill proposed by Weinstein was already worked on quite a bit, Ms. Eddy above. Yes, the bill may have been delayed – but that was because it was being watered down for acceptable passage. I appreciate that Weinstein tried to make sure that the bill had some teeth – instead of being a “gummed down” version. Getting a new house that was negligently built and not up to code should be expected and required – and shoddy, dishonest builders who disregard the law should not be able to get away with crap for houses.
@6
State inspectors in most cases do a lousy job.
It would be nice if they inspect new construction like it’s going to be his home when finished.
I don’t think governments can afford inspectors to inspect all the parts of construction that a home buyers warranty would cover, usually just the big stuff, therefore the need for the warranty. Often inspectors just look at the first of many cookie cutter projects so that the rest can be done as quickly as possible without delay of waiting for an inspector. Even if an inspector got there after something is buttoned up, I can just hear the home builder yelling at the electeds if they were required to reopen a drainfield or wall, especially in the exurbs and rural parts of the state.
What time is it?
Oops! Goldy hasn’t set the clock forward!
Never underestimate the power of a temper tantrum.
Former Senator Weinstein has demonstrated why he is no longer in the legislature – no one liked him.
Senator Mary Margaret Haugen has a temper like a grizzly bear.
Looks like Weinstein’s methods and Haugen’s temper killed this.
So much for merit.
Looks like nasty tactics rubbing thin skin.
@8
If the builder was dumb enough to cover. The inspector would make them uncover.
Jon, you do need to spend more time in Olympia. The potshot really isn’t helpful. I don’t mean to suggest that the Democrats are pure as the driven snow, but complex legislation requires more than bumper-sticker snarkiness. Do you want to cultivate a “journalistic” reputation as a guy who shoots from the hip rather than taking the time to do his research?
As all can see NotRight missed it again.
What does NotRight’s comment@6 have to do with what Hatfield said.
A B S O L U T E L Y _ N U T H I N. It’s just the standard Sunday theatre we all know and reject from NotRight. Hatfield attacks Weinstein. BIGTIME!
NotRight farted through his nether cheeks:
Law Offices of Weinstein, Bergman, & Frockt, P.S. give big time to the local Democratic. Hmmm…NotRight… what does that mean?
So what does that have to do with “asbestos liability lawsuits” fool? Ever see what mesothelioma does to someone fool? The elementary school we attended back east in the 60s had asbestos insulation. Guess what moron? Every janitor got mesothelioma over the years until they came in and had to run a hazmat detail to remove it. !
Seems to Sens. Jim Kastama, Mary Margaret Haugen and Jim Hargrove killed the “Homeowners Bill of Rights” in retaliation to Weinstein. Thor is right. So now NotRight is pizzed cuz Haugen and Hargrove took $800 from the BIAW and NotRight calls that the long reach.
His comment@6 is another in a long long series of long reaches!
Thor sets the record straight. NotRight is such a moron.
All Jon is doing is tossing insults at people. It is what his ilk does. Take a look at every public blog in this city: the more “liberal” the less civil. Absolutely no civility is shown to anyone with a different belief system. It’s childish, really.
He thinks calling names makes up for his small intellect.
@14:
Jennie Tlaz loves how Jon blogs. So what does that say? You decide.
@14: Dear biased fool – got any facts to back up your total crap.
The uncivil people on this blog are the trolls – who get tiresome with their lies and bloviating. Try visiting sound politics sometime and you will see conservative jerks posting ridiculous stuff and being extrememly hostile to any liberals and to common sense.
I have been called a “liar” over there – yet, Pudge cannot back up his “screams”. Your blanket statements about “liberals” demonstrates that you have a closed mind. In my experience, both liberals and conservatives can be rude. But more conservatives are “always right” (in their own minds) and refuse to admit when the facts show they are wrong. The conservatives also show a lot of tunnel vision and simplistic thinking. They tend to go for the trite answers (no taxes) instead of looking at the bigger picture and many just parrot what they hear Rush say or what they read on redstate. When it comes time to actually critically evaluate the facts….many of the loudmouths are MIA.
On the other hand, I generally agree with most fiscal conservatives. The fact that Bush left with the largest deficit in history after being handed a surplus doesn’t seem to bother some right wingnuts. The fact that we are in the longest sustained economic recession (due to Bush policies) since the great depression seems to not be important or to be unrecognized by many right wingers.
What is the right wing solution to the economic crisis? Doing nothing or less regulation and more taxes is what got us into this mess. Where are the new ideas from the right?
All I see is the incessant carping, by the same people who didn’t say a word when over a trillion was wasted with no-bid contracts on an unnecessary war in Iraq.
Where are the republicans who claimed that Reagan “proved” deficits don’t matter as Bush was piling up the debt?
I call them hypocrites. I call the people yelling socialism about health care fools. We are the only industrialized nation in the world without some kind of natioinal health care and our economy and businesses are suffering for it. We are disadvantaged in the global marketplace because we have to pay extra for health care and our costs are higher than any other country while our health is below middle of the pack. We are not getting our moneys worth from health care – but the insurance industry and the drug companies that pay the lobbyists are getting a sweet deal.
Of course Just Saying, NotRight forgets Democratics wanted Bush to fail in 2006 at the war, keeping terrorists out of the US, etc. Yep he gives a pass to their hypocritical ranting and carping. NotRight forgets what Al Gore said or Leon Panetta said. Why, it destroys his worthless rants.
Warren Buffet, was on CNBC http://www.cnbc.com/id/19206666/site/14081545/
Warren, a big supporter of Obama, is for the secret union ballet. Against the union card check stuff.
Warren, a big supporter of Obama, is looking at a carbon tax and is against it. So he’s against cap and trade.
Warren, a big supporter of Obama, said he’s better off with his private jet. He owns NetJets used by CEOs. He’s against demonizing CEOs. It’s looking backward.
Warren, a big supporter of Obama, is against Obama using the economy as a crisis to non-economic ram things through. Must fix the economy first.
Warren Buffet big time Obama supporter disagreeing with Obama’s tactics. Hmmm……
18 Warren Buffet, a big supporter of Obama who would doubtless consider Puddy a buffoon were they to meet, says it was only by a hair’s breath did we dodge a total, overnight collapse of the American economy last September.
Warren Buffet, a wise and reasonable and respectful man, believes that could yet come to pass if Democrats and Republicans can’t “set aside their differences” and work together to deal with the present situation.
Warren Buffet, a big supporter of Obama, also said he understands Republican positions.
Now if Puddy was NotRight (disgusting thought), Puddy would have posted those Buffet snippets without the link.
The right is screaming bloody murder about government deficits. What in the world happened to the days of Big Dick Cheney’s pronouncement that “deficits don’t matter”?
Apparently conservatives don’t mind a big deficit when:
(1.) It’s their deficit.
(2.) It’s being used to make rich people richer, poor people suffer or foreign people dead.
20 Hey, I “understand” anal sex. That doesn’t mean I participate.
FartyArt, he was working with Chucky Schumer who said budget pork doesn’t matter.
Also this Obama deficit spending is the largest ever.
ArtyFart@22: Well you not participating will pizz off half the HA Leftist Loony Ladder Landers. They won’t have fresh meat!
Jon, you should take Deb Eddy @ 3 up on the offer to really understand this issue. Former Sen. Weinstein tried to sell his version of this legislation as consumer protection, but in reality it was nothing more than a job security measure for litigation attorneys. If it had passed in the form he wanted home construction in the state, something that accounts for more than 20% of our economy, would have come to a grinding halt. Being a Liberal means recognizing the complexity of issues and acknowledging that there is no clear cut good or bad. Former Sen. Weinstein never listened to anyone but himself, and didn’t seem to care about the negative effects of his proposed legislation.