As of this writing we do not know who these representatives are from Washington, nor whether they are Democrats who usually comprise the majority in attendance at these junkets, or whether they are Republicans.
The four-day conference started Monday and since then some from California have fessed up. None from Texas as far as is known, Texas being the third of three states sending conferees.
Inquiring news sources have met with resistance in obtaining names as most lawmakers attending the Maui event have, so far, proven unwilling to come forward.
Here is Washington’s official travel advisory: “Washingtonians are encouraged to stay home or in their region and avoid non-essential travel to other states or countries. Avoiding travel can reduce the risk of virus transmission and bringing the virus back to Washington.”
Above is the official version.
Here, however, is how some as-yet-unnamed Washington lawbreakers, er lawmakers, aka legislators, are apparently interpreting it: “Let them eat brioche.”
Brioche in the 17th and 18th Centuries was a bread enriched with butter and eggs, considered a luxury food.
Luxury food is what your as-yet-unnamed representatives are consuming 2,400 miles from here in “Hawaii’s only all-suite and villa luxury resort”, the none other Fairmont Kea Lani where rooms can cost $600 night.
While you are instructed to stay home (it’s for your own good), your unnamed representatives are enjoying a swanky getaway, far from prying eyes, in an “oceanfront paradise that redefines luxury” (there’s that word again) according to the website.
While you are prohibited from singing in church, even with a mask on, your unnamed representatives have opportunity to tune out while relaxing in “a state-of-the-art spa” and enjoy “island inspired cuisine, six dining venues, four bars, three swimming pools” and perhaps a partridge in a pear tree.
In this age of the Internet and Zoom, it is hard to stomach your as-yet-unnamed representatives zooming to a tropical paradise when they could have stayed home, like you, and learned online the stuff they are purportedly learning over there.
You might be interested to know – like the as-yet-unnamed representatives should have known – that the host, the Independent Voter Project (IVP), developed a website last year for things like, oh, I don’t know, sharing important information.
You can even sign up for a twice-per-month report from IVP delivered right to your computer where you can sit comfortably in your PJ’s and learn lots even if you haven’t brushed your teeth or are having a bad hair day.
But no.
While you are coming to terms with disappointment over missing Thanksgiving meals with your family and loved ones, your as yet unnamed representatives are schmoozing with people they don’t even know.
You sacrifice. They schmooze.
And get this.
While all their expenses were paid by the host (five nights and air fare), and the host therefore warned the conferees to be in attendance “every minute” – the Independent Voter Project chairman and executive director Dan Howle admitted only about 75 of the 120 attendees are actually present and accounted for.
The others?
Well, the luxury villa offers “unrivaled access to the best adventures across the island. Aloha awaits!”
But there’s more.
The theme of the four-day event?
How to economically survive COVID.
Seriously.
How ‘bout staying home?
Like us peasants?
David, a few thoughts in reply:
A link or two to any media news source reporting on this subject would help those of us compelled occasionally to read your stuff in full to separate fact from your embellishments.
And your opening sentence introduces an unfortunate bias to your opinion. If you have data that allow you to say Democrats are more likely than Republicans to go on junkets, please included it. Your slant otherwise detracts from whatever you are trying to say.
Thank you.
Once we have by way of Public Disclosure – filed by Q13 News and other media – the calendars of all Washington legislators, we will know who attended.
For now:
“It is unclear who was in attendance, but the conference was organized by the Independent Voter Project and often draws Democratic legislators and lobbyists.” – Source: KXLY, Spokane
“Politico noted the event often draws moderate Democrats.” – Source: Washington Times
Q13 News reported Friday, November 20, 2020 that it had “filed a public disclosure request for the calendars of all state lawmakers, which could help determine whether any travelled to Hawaii.”
Attending the conference were, “according to Politico, lawmakers from California, Texas and Washington state.”
That Washington State lawmakers were indeed present at the conference was confirmed by the conference sponsor, Dan Howle, the Independent Voter Project’s chairman and executive director, who on Wednesday “confirmed with McClatchy that Washington legislators were at the conference.”
Yet, according to Q13 News, a spokesperson for the Washington House Democratic Caucus wrote in an email that they were not aware of any of their members attending the Hawaii event.
State Republicans said the same.
Stay tuned.
In the meantime, four reasons why this matter (Hawaii junket by legislators) matters:
First, it is rankling: “to be annoyed or angry for a long time.”
Keep in mind that this Hawaii conference started on November 16.
On November 12, four days before the Hawaii conference began, KING 5 quoted Gov. Inslee as saying “Our weekly average of weekly COVID cases has doubled just in the past two weeks. We are in as dangerous a position today as we were in March.”
To be, again, in “as dangerous a position” in November as we were eight months previously in March is to make irresponsible – in such a time as this – a trip by legislators to Hawaii.
Legislators are, after all, presumably as much or more aware of state-wide developments – especially in a pandemic – as the average citizen who is dependent on information gleaned from news sources.
Second, it is a matter of accountability.
Do you realize that, as of this writing, you likely still do not know who, among Washington legislators, attended this conference? If any, depending on who you talk to?
Why not?
Stay tuned.
Legislators are elected representatives. Not only, hopefully, will we know who attended the conference, but, in the interest of accountability, a follow-up should be: what did they learn? A detailed report – more than “had a great time, learned a lot” – should be forthcoming.
Then – or if – when you read their report ask yourself – and them – what information they shared could not have been obtained from home via the Internet or Zoom?
Third, this matter matters because, presumably, we’re all in this same-COVID-crisis-boat together.
What applies to one should apply to all.
Here’s what Jenny Graham, (R), 6th Legislative District State Representative (Spokane) wrote the evening of November 18: “The double standard is frustrating for those of us Washington lawmakers that are working our tails off. People have every right to be livid. I hope the hypocrisy comes to light.”
Fourth, this matter matters because presumably we are all concerned with health and safety.
From the same KING 5, November 12, news cast, spokespersons in the governor’s office said “As with previous restrictions, the goal is to reduce how often people are likely to come into contact with people from outside their household, limiting the spread, and preventing our health care system from being overwhelmed.”
Restrictions now, and previous (emphasis) restrictions, have always – always (as in back in March) – been for the purpose of health and safety. The restrictions have always been in place “to reduce how often people are likely to come into contact with people from outside their household, limiting the spread.”
Legislators traveling to Hawaii reduces coming into contact with people from outside their household?
Obviously, it does not.
Hawaii conferees had to say – simply had to say – that they had isolated for 14 days prior to arrival. Did they? Must we obtain their calendars to view where they’d been and with whom over the two weeks prior to the conference?
And what does ‘to quarantine’ guarantee?
Not a lot. According to NBC News on November 9, “quarantining for two weeks can only reduce risk according to experts.”
In the name of health and safety, was the trip to Hawaii a necessary risk?
No, it was not.
In the name of health and safety, did the trip to Hawaii fit the definition of “essential travel”?
No, it did not.
In lieu of failing to quarantine (if legislators were honest upon showing up in Hawaii and said they had not, in fact, quarantined for 14 days prior to arriving), the conference sponsor required instead evidence from a state-approved vendor that the legislator had tested negative for COVID-19 within the last 72 hours.
Which proves what?
Not much.
According to (Newsweek, November 19, 2020) Dr. Roy Gulick, chief of infectious diseases at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, “Getting a negative test certainly reduces, but does not eliminate, the chance of someone carrying SARS-CoV-2.”
In summary (for now), the legislators who attended the Hawaii conference:
1. Should have known the risk was much, much higher than the reward.
2. Should now, upon return, provide both a defense of why they went and what they learned.
3. Should have led by example and stayed home.
The legislators are, by virtue of their office, representative. If the people they represent should be so severely restricted, so should they.
4. Should take health and safety measures seriously.
The trip was not necessary.
It was a luxury.
David Anderson to add to your story and rub in more salt to our wounds & note who the corporate donors are, interesting right?
Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle reported 4 days ago, in part:
The event is smaller this year, only a third of its usual size, Howle said. Organizers booked about 50 rooms at the Fairmont and have about 120 people staying there this week, including legislators from California, Texas and Washington state.
The Independent Voter Project paid $550 for their airfare, Howle said, as well a five-night stay at the hotel, where rooms now run $600 or more per day.
Howle declined to name the attendees, but said there were fewer than 20 lawmakers from the three states. The remainder of the guests include legislators’ spouses and other family members, as well as representatives of businesses and trade groups that pay thousands of dollars to gain access to lawmakers who may later be voting on bills affecting their industries.
Such sponsorships have cost $10,000 in recent years, though Howle said he was offering a significant reduction for this conference because of the pandemic.
The Independent Voter Project, founded in 2006, is a nonprofit that says it aims to empower nonpartisan voters and promote a less polarized approach to governing. It was behind the 2010 ballot initiative that instituted California’s top-two primary system.
But the group — funded by corporate donors including AT&T, Eli Lilly and Co., Pepsico, Walmart and the Western States Petroleum Association — is best-known in Sacramento for spending tens of thousands of dollars each year to bring dozens of lawmakers to Maui.
Critics see the conference as a prime example of the cozy relationship between special interests and lawmakers, who participate in policy panels in the morning and then have the rest of the day free to enjoy the island. Howle has defended it as an opportunity to work through complex policy issues in a relaxed environment.
He said the conference has particular resonance this year because it is focused on how to safely reopen the economy and the tourism sector. Representatives of Maui County and the Hawaii governor’s office are scheduled to speak to attendees about the regulations they’ve adopted.
No matter what arguments you will hear from anyone there in Maui as a defense for their participation, the bottom line was the top priority.
From legislators you will hear how valuable was the information they gleaned in their half-day sessions.
The bottom line for them being there however was what they did the rest of the day.
From Howle himself you will hear in defense that Hawaii had all these safety protocols in place.
But the bottom line was that without this conference the hotel would suffer a tsunami of financial loss.
From the Tacoma News Tribune:
“With the pandemic raging at an unprecedented clip, did he consider going virtual, as so many other events have? Howle said that was an option, but that he thought it was important for public officials to go through Hawaii’s strict travel program. And, he said, the hotel was ‘on pins and needles’ with so many events canceled.”
Until I KNOW from actual released public records all we have is people’s outrage. I am outraged, but what I NEED to know is what IF any elected Washington state elected OR hired state employee where there. THEY need not only public shaming but fired for abuse. So I’m on hold like soooo many others waiting for the FACTS
Agreed!
You know what’s “hard to stomach”?
FAKE NEWS.
Put up names or shut up!! Send someone to the damn conference and prove who is there – Jesus it’s 2020! – or knock off the propaganda.
I’m no lover of politicians but this kind of “reporting” is obvious sensationalism – and it’s despicable. At least when my grandma read about the President’s alien baby in the Weekly World News, everyone understood it was BS!
Get the info, then report.
Thank you Elizabeth, as first to comment on David’s post I’ll add that you put a finer point on my message to David and others who feed the echo chamber without doing the hard work of being complete in their “reporting.” Facts obviate the fake, and ought to be researched fully before fingers hit the keyboard.
1. Politico, an American political journalism company that covers politics and policy in the United States and internationally, reported on November 16, 2020 the following with regard the Hawaii conference: “The 18th annual event was a third of its regular size, Howle said, but it still drew nearly 20 lawmakers from California, Texas and Washington state.”
2. Dan Howle, chairman and executive director of the Independent Voter Project which sponsored the event “confirmed with McClatchy that Washington legislators were at the conference,” as reported in the Tacoma News Tribune November 18, 2020.
3. Brandi Kruse, correspondent with Q13 News reported on November 20, 2020 that a Public Disclosure Request had been filed for the calendars of all state legislators for the month of November.
Thank you for those sources, David. It’s a shame that those criticizing you couldn’t take the time to FACT CHECK this themselves. I conclude they had no intention of doing so and only wanted to rag on you.
1. Politico, an American political journalism company that covers politics and policy in the United States and internationally, reported on November 16, 2020 the following with regard the Hawaii conference: “The 18th annual event was a third of its regular size, Howle said, but it still drew nearly 20 lawmakers from California, Texas and Washington state.”
2. Dan Howle, chairman and executive director of the Independent Voter Project which sponsored the event “confirmed with McClatchy that Washington legislators were at the conference,” as reported in the Tacoma News Tribune November 18, 2020.
3. Brandi Kruse, correspondent with Q13 News reported on November 20, 2020 that a Public Disclosure Request had been filed for the calendars of all state legislators for the month of November.
PUBLIC SERVANTS THEY ARE NOT! DO THE JOB YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO AND KNOCK OFF THE EXPLOITATION! IF YOU WANT TO EXPLOIT INSTEAD OF CONTRIBUTE JOIN THE OVER
30, 0000 LOBBYIST IN D.C. BRIBING YOURSELF TO SELL OUT.
DIRTY MONEY COMING FROM THE LIKES OF BEZOS, KOCHS AND SO MANY IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF ALL THE CORRPUTION. LACK OF ETHICS JOIN THE LOBBYISTS .
In reply to Chris: I should let this go, but it’s clear my previous points were not clear. I actually agreed with David this time, but I just believe that anyone expecting others to read what they write should included all sources with the initial post, and when repeating content from those sources, essentially verbatim it would appear, that copied text should be in quotes, with the source noted. I mean, if David (or anyone) expects perhaps hundreds or thousands of people to read the post, why on earth should everyone have to track down those same sources. I feel it’s unprofessional and presumptuous to shirk the effort of capturing what the writer is already looking at, and expecting everyone to trust what’s said or collectively waste countless minutes/hours otherwise to verify. That’s all. I wish you all a safe and pleasant Thanksgiving.