Political Buzz - Senate Republicans insulate their staff from Sen. Pam Roach

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Wednesday, March 19th, 2008

Senate Republicans insulate their staff from Sen. Pam Roach

Posted by Joe Turner @ 04:20:15 pm

Well, now we know why Sen. Pam Roach was all bent out of shape earlier this week.

Senate Republican leaders released their disciplinary report after we filed a public records request.

Senate GOP leadership told Roach she can't have direct access to caucus staff because of her "inordinate" demands on staff time and her sorta insistence on loyalty oaths from staffers. It sounds as if the staff complained to leadership that Roach spends so much time complaining about other senators, former senators, Senate GOP leadership, lobbyists, Republican party leaders and others that they don't have much time to do anything else.

Hereafter, Roach will have to make her requests to caucus staff through her legislative aide and staff will give their help to the aide so Roach and the staff will never come into direct contact with each other.

"Staff are asked to spend an inordinate amount of time with Member (Sen. Roach) to detriment of their obligations to other members and to the personal lives of staff," Senate leadership wrote.

The memo is signed by Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla; Caucus Chair Linda Parlette, R-Wenatchee; Floor Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, and Whip Dale Brandland, R-Bellingham.

Niki is writing a story for Thursday's paper, which will have more detail. And if I can figure out how to post a PDF, I'll show you what leadership said.

Categories: Legislature

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