If County Is Broken, How Would You Fix It?

At least two pieces of legislation are under consideration in Olympia to correct what their sponsors perceive as flaws in the current structure of Spokane County government.

One would let county voters pass or repeal laws by initiative and referendum, something they can’t do now. Another would make it easier for Spokane County to eliminate the county coroner’s office (whose current occupant is recognized as an embarrassment even by the state coroner’s association) in favor of a medical examiner.

And on top of that, the Spokane County assessor’s office is the object of a critical state audit that identified deficiencies that could be costing county taxpayers thousands of dollars.

All that repair and diagnostic work is being attempted by state government on the far side of the Cascades. Spokane County voters had a chance to be their own mechanic but they turned down the unified charter proposal that would have given them the tools they needed.

Some people in Olympia obviously still think something needs to be done. But how about residents of Spokane County? Is there will or energy here for tackling the job? If so, who will do it, and how?

Hillary’s itinerary one for the book

Jim Wright lost the speakership of the House over a book deal in which he exploited his government position for a private deal.

Newt Gingrich hasn’t been ousted - yet, at least - but he suffered political wounds because of similarly poor judgment.

Now Hillary Rodham Clinton, as if she didn’t have enough of her own political problems already, is using an Air Force jet to flit around the country pitching her book, “It Takes a Village and Other Lessons Children Teach us.”

Cost to the taxpayers - after publisher Simon & Schuster repays the equivalent of commercial first-class jet travel - is more than $50,000.

The nation’s first lady needs Secret Service protection, the White House explains. The security entourage isn’t part of the cost estimate but the $2,890-an-hour military plane is.

Security? Yes. But the book’s already No. 1 on the New York Times’ bestseller list.

So, as they asked during the war that launched the boom with which the Clintons identify, is this trip necessary?

, DataTimes MEMO: “Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone; or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.