WA's 48th district: Rodney Tom being investigated for ethics violations?

Anybody get a call alleging that state rep Rodney Tom, who is running for the state senate against incumbent Luke Esser, is being investigated for ethics violations?

(Update: Here's a wav file of the call!)

The blogger Hominid Views relates receiving such a call and talking with the person who handles complaints made to the Legislative Ethics Board, Mike O'Connell, who reportedly has received complaints about the robo-call.

[O'Connell] mentioned that if there was an investigation underway, he wouldn’t be able to comment. What he could say is that nothing from his office had been sent to the ethics board for investigation, or will be be unless a proper complaint is filed with his office.

Personally, I plan to vote for Rodney Tom for two reasons.

1. I tend to agree with many of his positions.
2. I have HAD IT with Esser's staff sending me letters THANKING me for supporting his votes. Why do these letters piss me off so much? Because they are replies are to letters I sent urging Esser to CHANGE his vote. No, really, I do NOT like being thanked for "supporting Esser's fight against the Gay agenda" when I urged him to vote FOR GAY RIGHTS. Gahgh! I HATE THAT!!

But wait, there's more! ( Read more... )

Also: Someone else filed a frivolous complaint against Luke Esser, alleging that he sexually abuses pigs (may not be work-safe).

Do pro sports help or hinder an area's economy?

Courtesy of the Slog:

[S]everal recent studies, one by the University of Minnesota, one by the Lincoln Insititute, one by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and another by the CATO Institute found that, if anything, professional sports teams may actually hurt local economies. The CATO study, for example, debunks industry claims that sports teams generate new consumer spending (they actually just suck up existing discretionary spending), and concludes, “the net economic impact [is] a reduction in real per-capita income over the entire metropolitan area.”
- Josh Feit

I can't help wondering if part of the problem isn't the NFL/NBA business model of expecting cities to subsidize their costs tax breaks and facilities.

Not a coincidence

Luke Esser sent jw1776 a letter which states

• Rodney Tom is soft on drug crime. Electing him could lead to decriminalization. Esser knows better.
• Rodney Tom missed 80some votes this year and accepted money when he wasn't at work (see also this post).

I'm surprised it didn't mention the supposed "ethics investigation" too.

I am considering a thank-you note to Esser for pointing out that Tom supports decriminalization. Personally I think GlaxoSmithKline could do a much better job of putting drug dealers out of business than the cops.