Friday, October 17, 2008

One Great Way Cut Government Spending

The Office of Risk Management is the government agency that gives out money after the state loses lawsuits. Sometimes accidents happen.

As a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee I have read these reports. They are actually kind of interesting. One claimant was a man at Western State Hospital who fell, or was allowed to roll, off a gurney. He was injured. We paid.

Another case was an employee with Fish and Wildlife who stepped out of his truck and got hurt. We paid.

OK....But the big ones are the ones that deal with children, abuse, sex, and government failure.

The 14 year old girl who weighed 47 pounds and was held against her will... and tortured for years at the hands of her parents...had asked to be placed in foster care. She told authorities she was being starved. She told them she was being held captive. She wanted out of her house.


As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee I am guessing that the attorneys (go get 'em...!) will say the state was grossly negligent.

There is a civil standard for this crime which means there is a "preponderance of evidence" standard rather than a standard of "beyond reasonable doubt." (OJ was not found guilty on the former but was accountable on the later.) EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE SHOULD BE A PIECE OF CAKE TO PROVE.

I am on the side of this poor young girl. And, I know you are too. I also know that as taxpayers...you are wondering how this stuff happens.

None of us will know unless DSHS opens its doors to public scrutiny. We need open and accountable government. Please write your legislators and demand it.

Want to protect children and stop waste of money? Then DSHS administration has to do a better job.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well put Pam....We will all start sending out letters. My heart aches for that young girl...she will be scarred for life...again with the assistance of CPS. Have they no HEART?? No shame? I do believe the Agency AND individuals responsible should be held accountable and liable for the damages awarded in a lawsuit, not the taxpayers. I did't allow it to happen and don't feel I should have to pay for the total lack of disregard for this young girl and the rest of the children they feel are not important enough to protect. Maybe then, when they had to fork over their undeserved income, they might open their eyes.Please keep us updated,we all would like to know how she is doing. I hope someone can keep DSHS as far away from her as possible.

Anonymous said...

So I'm reading the Voters Pamphlet I just received. In it, Brian Sonntag (State Auditor) defines accountability as "government that is open,accessible,responsive,listens to people and tells the truth". I had to make sure I hadn't received this pamphlet from another state!!! Keep up the good work and hold your head high! Maybe they should all read what our State Auditor said.

Anonymous said...

These cockroaches scumbags care nothing about an innocent child.