Where have all the good times gone?

More good news for the local GOP:

State Rep. Jim Dunn will be stripped of his committee assignments and denied travel reimbursement after the 17th District lawmaker made what even Dunn acknowledged was an "inappropriate" remark to a woman at a legislative function in the Tri-Cities last month.

"We want to have zero tolerance for our members for inappropriate comments," said House Republican leader Richard DeBolt. "We asked (Dunn) to go get sensitivity training. Until he does that, he won't be serving on any committees."

Dunn said he regretted the incident, which occurred at a dinner during a meeting of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.

"I opened my mouth inappropriately and apologized for it," Dunn said. He said he couldn't recall exactly what he said to the woman, who was a stranger to him, but it was along the lines of "I bought you a drink because I want to take you home."

Dunn, who is married, said he was pressured to resign but refused. "I'm elected by the people," he said.

If you have zero committee assignments, how are you supposed to represent your constituents effectively? Like Richard Curtis, he's using per diem for hotel rooms to score. But Dunn's not a playa, legislatively or otherwise, having introduced no substantial legislation whatsoever, period. Now Debolt is knee capping him, requesting that Speaker Chopp strip him of his committee assignments and that per diem be stripped after the 2008 session. In this case, we all hate the playa, and the game.

The Clark County GOP's migraine size headache just continues this week. Now, the worst possibility for Democrats is that Dunn actually resigns.

So who's gonna pay for Dunn to fill up his tank to get up to Olympia? I'm in for $20. There's nothing sadder than a state legislator trying to thumb rides up I-5.

All this misfortune for the local GOP the last two weeks reminds of a great Kinks song:

Well, once we had an easy ride and always felt the same
Time was on our side and I had everything to gain
Let it be like yesterday
Please let me have happy days

Won't you tell me
Where have all the good times gone?
Where have all the good times gone?

Ray Davies - The Kinks