Cattle Given access to Wildlife Habitat

Tweet Gov. Gregoire caught playing footsie with the Cattlemen's Association. Portion below. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/322936_grazing09.html

"Environmental consultant Robert Kavanaugh has filed an ethics complaint against Gregoire and Fish and Wildlife Director Jeff Koenings because he said they gave favors to the Cattlemen's Association that no other citizen could have.

"'The ethics code is very clear: A state official cannot give away state resources or do favors for others. The wildlife habitat down there is not theirs to give to the Cattlemen's Association," he said.

"Tom Fitzsimmons, Gregoire's chief of staff, said circumstances and motives that led to the pilot project are consistent with the governor's style, which is to seek out solutions that are mutually beneficial for all parties.

"'It was very typical of the governor," Fitzsimmons said. "In the spirit of reaching out to people, she reached out to the Cattlemen's Association and said, 'How can the state be involved in your issues?'"

"Fitzsimmons said the results have not been proved one way or the other and he said the governor is also taking into consideration the view of those who think it's not a good idea.
"There are differing views of whether it is really working or not," he said. "The jury's still out but that didn't keep us from experimenting and getting into the pilot a little bit."