— by Mohammed Kloub for Crosscut.com —
Lynn Peterson
In a 25-21 vote divided along partisan lines, the state Senate fired Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson on Friday [Feb. 5] by refusing to confirm her, three years after her initial appointment.
A gubernatorial appointee can serve indefinitely without formal confirmation, but can no longer serve if rejected.
Peterson’s mostly Republican opposition — nominal Democrat Tim Sheldon joined them — cited ongoing problems with I-405 toll lanes and the Highway 99 tunnel project in their refusal to confirm the secretary.
Republicans and Democrats presented diametrically opposed pictures of the move, which seemed to represent the playing of a surprise political card. Little attention had been paid to the long-term inaction by the Republican-dominated Senate on confirming or rejecting the appointment.
(to read the full article, go to https://crosscut.com/2016/02/inslees-transportation-secretary-roadblocked/)
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