Did you know that taxpayers have been paying to provide dentists with a free lobbyist in Olympia? Her name is Rep. Michelle Caldier (R-26th), a former dentist herself, and it’s time to send her packing.
Since 2014, she has sponsored bills to improve profits for our state’s dentists while doing nothing to make dental work more affordable or dental insurance more accessible to Washingtonians, such as requiring the presence of a dentist during procedures performed by dental assistants. See HB 1935 and HB 2176. In the case of HB 1678, Caldier opposed allowing qualified assistants in Native American clinics to perform tasks permitted elsewhere.
After her election, Caldier spent a lot of time on the KP attending every yarn show and tractor pull we’ve had to ingratiate herself with the community.
But times have changed, and she has become complacent, taking her election, and us, for granted.
Nothing has proven how out-of-touch she is more than her support for Jim Henderson in a self-serving effort to destroy the candidacy of her fellow Republican Jesse Young. Her animosity toward Young has outweighed her desire to accomplish anything for the voters of our 26th legislative district, other than insulting our intelligence by foisting upon us an unqualified lobbyist for big-money slumlords while thousands in the district deal daily with homelessness.
Meanwhile, an investigation by the Chief Clerk’s office of the House determined that she had repeatedly belittled, berated and swore at staff members — mirroring Rep. Young’s documented behavior, for which he was sanctioned. She doubled down by releasing the names of the whistleblowers who made the well-founded accusations, a direct violation of Legislature conduct rules.
Her entitlement in violating such rules is further evidence that she has no qualms about unethical behavior to maintain power for personal benefit. Her next step appears to be angling for a state Senate appointment to Sen. Emily Randall’s (D-26th) seat after her imminent election to Congress this November.
Her opponent, newcomer Tiffiny Mitchell (D) has no axe to grind with anybody in Olympia. She has a genuine love for her neighbors in the 26th, as she did in the district around Astoria, Oregon, where she served in the state legislature. She is running to improve our lives without all the baggage Caldier has been collecting for the past 10 years.
It’s time to say, “Thank you for your service, Rep. Caldier, enjoy your retirement, but we need a representative in Olympia to work for us, not herself.” Oh, and dentists can afford to pay a lobbyist the legitimate way, not buying the campaign with donations.
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