Bader's baseless complaint dismissed

The state Executive Ethics Board yesterday dismissed an over the top complaint filed by Republican political consultant Brett Bader against Washington State Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald:

He was accused of using public resources to campaign against the initiative that would have repealed a gasoline tax. A state Web site showed highway projects that were on hold awaiting the fate of the initiative.

The board found only three minor violations it said were inadvertent.

MacDonald says he's pleased with the ruling because it acknowledge the department's efforts to inform the public about highway projects.

Bader, if you remember, was one of the driving hacks behind Initiative 912, which was largely propelled by KVI talk show hosts John Carlson and Kirby Wilbur. Initiative 912 was soundly rejected by voters in November of 2005 after a hard fought campaign.