Sen. Pam Roach (R-Auburn) has drafted a performance audit bill reflecting 100 percent of the model language the Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF) submitted to legislators in the form of a performance audit (www.effwa.org/auditpledge.php) pledge last year.

Fifty-three members of the House, including Speaker Frank Chopp, and 17 members of the Senate signed EFF’s performance audit pledge. This means there should be no obstacles to a companion bill being introduced in the House.

“The legislature appears poised to finally adopt independent and comprehensive performance audits of state government,” said Jason Mercier, budget research analyst for EFF. “We would like to thank Sen. Roach and all the performance audit pledge signers for their commitment to this type of accountability to citizens.”

Performance reviews in Texas have identified $16 billion in potential savings since being authorized in 1991 and California’s recent performance review identified $32 billion in potential savings that could be assumed over a five-year period.

Pledge signers in the House include 26th District Representatives Derek Kilmer and Pat Lantz (D-Gig Harbor), 23rd District Representatives Sherry Appleton (D-Poulsbo) and Bev Woods (R-Poulsbo), as well as 35th District Senator Tim Sheldon. Representatives Bill Eickmeyer and Kathy Haigh of the 35th District, 26th District Senator Bob Oke and 23rd District Senator Phil Rockefeller didn’t sign the pledge.