State expenses need tracking

When Gov. Chris Gregoire learned through a news story in The Olympian that the State Lottery Commission had bought itself a $49,000 Mercedes van to travel around in promoting ticket sales, she put the kibosh on it fast.

The state is still so broke she had just called a special session of the legislature for November and she made clear this was no time for the lottery folks to be gallivanting around in a van they also were having equipped with gadgets for a total cost of $124,000. Sell it, she ordered, and make sure you get back every penny you spent.

While she’s at it, why doesn’t she check on...