Senators Aghast at Losing Dining Room

A $100-million Capitol renovation means Washington state senators will temporarily lose their private dining room and French chefs, and have to eat the same food served to the public.

The response was swift.

“THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE,” wrote Sen. Don Benton (R-Vancouver) in a letter signed by 36 of the 49 state senators. “We as members of the Senate, have come to look forward to the quality food prepared by Jean-Pierre and Kerri, as well as the quiet camradery [sic] of our fellow Senators in a private setting.”

Restaurant owners Jean-Pierre and Kerri Simon cook for the Senate part time. While writing a budget that cut $685 million in services and laid off hundreds of state workers, the Senate honored its favorite chefs with a standing ovation last week.

Benton and co-signers defended their food fight.

“My lunch breaks are typically 15 minutes to half an hour, then I have appointments,” said Sen. James Hargrove (D-Hoquiam). “The point for me is to have some peace and quiet. It seems like much ado about nothing.”

Senators pay for meals, covering most of the operating cost of their dining room, said Tom Cook, the Senate secretary. The temporary legislative lunchroom will be cramped, with room for about 40 people. Plus, lawmakers will be forced to eat the same food served to the public.

“Oh! The humanity!” mocked TV commentator Ken Schram, who suggested voters kick complaining lawmakers out of office so “the only private dining those senators will have to fret over will be a booth at Denny’s.”

“Education just got clobbered in the state budget,” said schools advocate Lisa Macfarlane of Seattle after stifling a laugh. “If it took a private dining room for them to come up with a long-term solution, we’d cook.”