GOP senator says colleagues have tried to ruin her
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - An embattled Republican senator defended herself Thursday against fresh allegations that she mistreated staff, countering that some of her colleagues are engaged in a yearslong campaign to tarnish her good name.
Sen. Pam Roach claimed she drew the ire of former Senate Republican Leader Mike Hewitt after campaigning against him for the top post in the caucus several years ago. In an hourlong meeting with reporters, the Auburn lawmaker described herself as an upstanding professional who has raised successful children and devoted herself to humanitarian work.
"I am a good parent. I am a good person," Roach said. "I do more arguably - not even arguably - than anybody in this Senate. I care about people."
Roach denied that she's ever mistreated anybody and complained that the Senate process doesn't allow her to know her accusers or properly defend herself. Hewitt declined to comment, other than saying that he didn't want to rehash "old, false allegations."
Mike Hoover, a former GOP attorney in the Senate who pursued a claim against the state for having a hostile work environment, said his effort was never an attempt to persecute or embarrass anybody.
"I wanted it to be a wake-up call to the Senate that they had an ongoing problem and they needed to address it," Hoover said. "That was what I was hoping to accomplish."
Roach was sanctioned in 2010 after allegations of mistreating staff, and new documents released this week describe a verbal tirade last year in which she cursed during a budget meeting, rising out of a chair at one point and using charged language to criticize what she deemed "fat" Republican districts.
A new GOP-dominated majority in the state Senate lifted sanctions against Roach this week despite the new allegations and despite a committee reaffirming the sanctions as part of a legal settlement with Hoover four months ago. She is now chair of the Senate's government operations committee and a key lawmaker in the chamber because the coalition holds only a one-vote majority.
Sen. Pam Roach claimed she drew the ire of former Senate Republican Leader Mike Hewitt after campaigning against him for the top post in the caucus several years ago. In an hourlong meeting with reporters, the Auburn lawmaker described herself as an upstanding professional who has raised successful children and devoted herself to humanitarian work.
"I am a good parent. I am a good person," Roach said. "I do more arguably - not even arguably - than anybody in this Senate. I care about people."
Roach denied that she's ever mistreated anybody and complained that the Senate process doesn't allow her to know her accusers or properly defend herself. Hewitt declined to comment, other than saying that he didn't want to rehash "old, false allegations."
Mike Hoover, a former GOP attorney in the Senate who pursued a claim against the state for having a hostile work environment, said his effort was never an attempt to persecute or embarrass anybody.
"I wanted it to be a wake-up call to the Senate that they had an ongoing problem and they needed to address it," Hoover said. "That was what I was hoping to accomplish."
Roach was sanctioned in 2010 after allegations of mistreating staff, and new documents released this week describe a verbal tirade last year in which she cursed during a budget meeting, rising out of a chair at one point and using charged language to criticize what she deemed "fat" Republican districts.
A new GOP-dominated majority in the state Senate lifted sanctions against Roach this week despite the new allegations and despite a committee reaffirming the sanctions as part of a legal settlement with Hoover four months ago. She is now chair of the Senate's government operations committee and a key lawmaker in the chamber because the coalition holds only a one-vote majority.
Pam, you have to take your medication EVERY DAY
Colleagues are trying to ruin her? Seems like she's doing a fine job of that all by herself.
Â
Well, the good people of Auburn seem to like her, they've reelected her how many times? So, who really cares.
 @Bianca Well, the US House of Representatives has a 10% approval rating and a 95% incumbency rate. Getting elected the first time is hard. Getting re-elected is ridiculously easy. Voters are sheep.
Â
Arguably was probably not the best choice of words for her.
Doesn't she own a hairbrush? Or is the "just got out of bed" look the "in" thing?
@Glassman Whatever it is, it isn't working for her.
I'd like to stand in front of the legislature and deliver a tirade of my own. I assure you it would make Sentaor Roach's words sound rather polite.
Â
Also, who cares if some crybaby attorney doesn't like her? As far as I'm concerned, being disliked by an attorney is a good thing.
Â
Keep fighting, Senator.
She keeps shooting herself in the foot then blaming the gun.
And I bet everyone is jealous of her too.
That is politics Pam haven't you been paying attention? They aren't trying to ruin you, you are ruining yourself they just aren't letting you get away with it.
No Pam, your mouth is ruining your career.
She looks like a evil lady, and you know what they say always judge a book by its cover when it comes to politics. She probably drinks vodka by the gallon.
Of course its is someone else's fault Pam....yeah, sure. You are such an innocent sweet angel of a victim. *sarcasm alert*
"colleagues have tried to ruin her"
Â
With her history, going public with this assertion is ludicrous. Makes her sound delusional and unable to take responsibility for her actions.
She looks more like a Happy Drinker than a senator.
@scychan No, I would guess more of a mean drunk.
No Pam, the fact that you ARE a #!*!!#*!#*! & a __________ has tarnished your "good name".
The proverbial shoe has fit you nicely.
This woman has ruined herself---and others in her path.
Â
OK kids...you all deserve a time out...go sit in the corner..
Both parties need to go.Â
The fact that this woman gets reelected is a testimony to the gulibility and stupidity of the American voter.  Amazing!
This woman is a lunatic. Professional people do not act like this. In fact, ADULTS do not act like this.
@Melissa Angevine Yes, ADULTS do act like this...it is called politics...
If the people of Auburn want her there then why is it anyone else's business? So far all I have seen is that she got mad and yelled about "fat Republican districts" and maybe tossed a swear word or two around? Did Boehner tell someone to "F" off? I have read that swear words fly all around Congress? So if the people of Auburn don't have a problem with her then so what?
 @sometimesright:Â
You obviously do not know much of her history. She has had "issues" going back to the 1990's. The behavior that got her sanctioned & banned has been consistantly the same. If you want a couple of prime examples of her liunacy, here are a couple of links:
Â
"Washington legislature's leader in batshit craziness"
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2009/02/pam_roach_best_in_show.php
Â
Her "famous" roses speech (set to music...)
http://horsesass.org/?p=2119
Â
Â
 @sometimesright If the people of Auburn keep re-electing her she has a right to have her vote counted. On all other occasions she should be locked out.
 @sometimesright I guess you are not aware that her behavior is unprofessional,Â
 @Melissa Angevine I don't live in Auburn so it is not my place to care. She represents the people of Auburn and they keep re-electing her knowing how crass she is. If that is what they want for their state Senator then so be it. If they don't like her then it is THEIR responsibility to not elect her, recall her or whatever, not mine or her fellow senators. I personally would not vote for her, but I certainly don't want other people telling my senator what they can and can't say or can and can't act as long as they are not breaking the law. Calling names, as childish as I think it is, does not in my book rank enough to disenfranchise the people of Auburn who put her there.
 @sometimesright Or do you think that acting like a child in a work environment is acceptable?Â
 @sometimesright  @Melissa Angevine Romney pulled off a "brilliant political move" too!!  Something tells me you aren't gonna have a long career as a repub party consultant...
 @Melissa Angevine BTW..the childish part is the clowns in the senate and media who keep giving her press coverage for her antics and are making her the darling of the conservative opposition. What she just pulled off was a brilliant political move. She can say whatever she wants now knowing that they can't punish her. If they do punish her all she has to do is say she refuses to caucus with the Republicans giving the Democrats a one seat majority similar to what Jim Jeffords did in 2001. This means that if the Republicans want to keep their tenuous hold on the Senate, they have no choice but to play by Roach's rules. She can thus speak her mind knowing that there is nothing they can do about it without losing their hold on the senate. Now because of the places in the media like here on KOMO who can't stand her, they have just given her 3 days of free media in order to paint her as the hero of the conservatives. She has just become the most powerful person in the senate. The guy that is mad at her, (Hoover) has been quietly moved over to the House. Who won now? Roach has come out on top as all roaches do when you try and eradicate them.
Â
"GOP senator says colleagues have tried to ruin her"
Â
Roach  - you've done it to yourself. Your own behavior is that of a selfish blind to reality pig. In fact, calling you that is an insult to pigs.
Â
You behave far, far worse than the invectives thrown at Democrats by the far right folks who post on here.
Â
So before you -once again- blame everyone else for your problems - go look in the mirror. Really look. Don't use the typical politican's view of the world. Try to see yourself as others see you. You won't like what you see.
Maybe she should give up this line of work, and buy a motel? :-P
"I am a good parent. I am a good person," Roach said. "I do more arguably - not even arguably - than anybody in this Senate. I care about people."
Â
So someone who implies that anyone else in this Senate does not care about people has no issues? Oh, that's not what she meant. OK. But it comes across like that, does it not? Maybe she is not an effective communicator. Anyways, wrong job for her.
She takes no responsibility whatsoever for her own behavior. It's all other people's fault!
Will someone, anyone, GOP or Democrat...just replace her, please.
Well Mrs. Roach this is what you get when you call out the conceited, self-important, egotistical folks that are running Government today. We are supposed to hold them in high regard and treat them with utmost respect as they are picking our pockets and trample all over our rights. Keep rocking the boat and keep up the fight.
@Alert Eagle -- so you are apparently ok with her horrible behavior to others, to her dehumanizing others simply because they dare to exist in a manner that she doesn't like. Amazing.Â
Yeah, sure. Â Years and years of documented abuses and flagrant disregard for others, resulting in sanctions (SANCTIONS!), but they don't have anything better to do for their constituents than set out to ruin her. Â Sorry, Pam, you do NOT have a good name and it's your own fault.