As Republican gubernatorial wannabe Rob McKenna emphasized at his campaign kickoff last week, the biggest threat facing our state's long term prosperity is all those pampered, overpaid, wasteful government workers... a thesis persuasively illustrated by the scandalous exploits of two Washington state employees who were recently caught winning a national award for excellence on the taxpayers' dime! Shame on them.

OLYMPIA — Two state employees received national recognition for a statewide wildfire prevention project. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildfire Prevention Program Manager, Sandy Williams, and the Department of Ecology Air Quality Program Environmental Planner, Julie Oliver, received the National Bronze Smokey Bear award ... for sustained excellence in wildland fire prevention.

The Bronze Award recognizes performance of statewide significance. Sandy Williams and Julie Oliver collaborated to implement a burn barrel exchange program. Outdoor burning has been a leading cause for wildfire starts in the Pacific Northwest and a significant source of air quality problems. The use of burn barrels has been illegal in Washington for many years. This program encourages Washington residents to turn in their burn barrels and receive a free compost bin in exchange. For the last two years, Sandy and Julie have worked to deliver this program targeting high-risk counties for escaped debris burning.

The exchange program brought in more than 770 illegal burn barrels over two years. It's a scandal, I tell you! But just think how much more productive and less-costly Williams and Oliver would be if we froze their pay, slashed their benefits, and laid off one or both of them. Rescue us, Gov. McKenna!