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Adam Wilson expounds on Washington state government, workers and politics. Wilson began covering those issues for the Olympian in 2004. He can be reached at: awilson@theolympian.com.
Rumors confirmed in labor council email flap
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The good bit of today's story about the shortlived criminal investigation into emails from the Washington State Labor Council is at the end.
The Associated Press' Curt Woodward, through the magic of public disclosure requests, confirms two key names that were circulated regarding the incident. One, the council's mild-mannered Jeff Johnson did send an email outlining labor strategy on the Worker Privacy Act – including threatening to withhold campaign contributions -- to some legislators.
And two, Sen. Jeanne Khol-Welles (sponsor of the also-controversial retro bill) did indeed forward the email to leadership, which doomed the privacy act.
Even better, maybe, is further illumination of Boeing's role, including a request to Gov. Chris Gregoire to step in before House Democrats bowed to labor pressure:
In that e-mail, Boeing lobbyist Trent House tells Gregoire aviation adviser Bill McSherry that he has been counting votes among House Democrats, and that lawmakers "overwhelmingly want this bill just to go away and not have a vote. However, if a vote is required, most would reluctantly vote with the Labor community despite the known legal and symbolic flaws."
"This bill must not come up for a vote or it will pass with a large margin and compel the Senate to act as well," House wrote, adding that he believed legislators wanted Gregoire to get involved, "to share the responsibility necessary to do the right thing on these issues."
"The Governor cannot sit by and wait for this stuff to go away on it's own. It will not," House wrote.
The following Tuesday morning, March 10, is when the Labor Council's Johnson e-mailed his strategy memo.
"This bill must not come up for a vote or it will pass with a large margin and compel the Senate to act as well," House wrote, adding that he believed legislators wanted Gregoire to get involved, "to share the responsibility necessary to do the right thing on these issues."
"The Governor cannot sit by and wait for this stuff to go away on it's own. It will not," House wrote.
The following Tuesday morning, March 10, is when the Labor Council's Johnson e-mailed his strategy memo.
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