As we move toward holding HMOs responsible for inappropriate decisions they make to deny needed care, our government officials are seeking a "Kings-X" on THEIR liability if they foul up. Given some of the true debacles that have occurred in this state (The Wenatchee child sex ring fiasco, that DSHS and the Wenatchee PD fouled up, for instance), I think we ought to have an initiative to go the OTHER way. Hold government employees CRIMINALLY liable as well as having civil liability when someone is injured due to their incompetence or negligence.

http://www.seattletimes.com/news/editorial/html98/cost_20000128.html It is with these solemn thoughts that I find myself truly astonished to learn that Seattle and King County officials are currently mounting a campaign to gain immunity from lawsuits launched by victims of violent crimes - even when government negligence is proven. Their argument goes something like this: We should not be held accountable for our mistakes because we're . . . the government!

Under House Bill 2715, local governments would get off the hook for failing to properly supervise violent perpetrators who bring harm to innocent citizens.

This bid to insulate bureaucrats from deadly mistakes at the local level was spurred by the case of Barry Krantz. Risk managers for Seattle and King County have embraced the Krantz case in a move to initiate statewide reforms of criminal supervision. Their aim is to minimize government's risk by increasing ours.

Barry Krantz is every parent's nightmare. On Oct. 6, 1990, Krantz crept through the bedroom window of a 6-year-old girl and raped her. At the time he committed this crime, Krantz was on parole with the city of Seattle from another sex crime as he awaited trial for yet another sex crime.

The guardian of the 6-year-old girl sued the city of Seattle for failing to properly supervise Krantz. Local governments think this is unfair.

-- Craig Carson (craigcar@crosswinds.net), January 28, 2000

Answers

And the bureaucrats wonder why so many people are coming to despise them!

However, to balance the above posting, by golly I read in the Times tonight about another case where our government is really trying to protect us from harm. In a letter to the editor, a correspondent noted that government health insectors in Southwest Washington are "cracking down" on bake sales. They say that the goodies can no longer be made at home. They figure that is way too dangerous. So you see, our superiors in government really have our best interests at heart!

-- Albert Fosha (AFosha@aol.com), January 28, 2000.