To make GOP's voice heard, Roach raises his

Excerpts from his blog, Postman on Politics

Rep. Dan Roach, ignoring a warning that his arguments against a piece of legislation were getting too personal, alleged Thursday that the House was being railroaded by the Democratic majority leader's husband.

Roach, R-Bonney Lake, Pierce County, offered no evidence that Rep. Lynn Kessler's husband, attorney Keith Kessler, had helped lobby for the legislation.

Senate Bill 5726 would increase damages that insurance companies could pay in court cases — a provision Republicans have called a boon to trial attorneys.

"I know, Mr. Speaker, this is not for the consumer. It hurts consumers," Roach said during the morning debate. "It is a sad day because this is something that has been run through the system."

He said a Democrat had jokingly told him to prepare to be railroaded.

House Speaker Pro Tem John Lovick gaveled Roach down and warned him to follow House rules that do not allow impugning fellow members.

But Roach pressed on.

"Look out guys, the train is coming through," he said. "The Keith Kessler train is coming through and you better get out of the way." Roach pumped his arm up and down like he was blowing a train whistle and shouted: "Whoo, whoo!"

Lynn Kessler jumped up to demand an apology. The House took a break, and Kessler strode across the chambers and confronted Roach.

"You insult my husband? What in the world is wrong with you?" she shouted at Roach. As Roach said something in response that couldn't be heard off the floor, Kessler quickly said, "I don't care. ... You insult me. Do not insult my spouse."

Back in session, Roach told the House that the debate had gotten heated and "people are very emotional on both sides."

"However, that is no excuse to disrespect the institution and I want to stand and apologize for that ... and I want to make sure that anyone who I may have offended personally who I brought in, to let them know that I apologize for that as well," he said.

His reference to Keith Kessler, though, was not spur-of-the-moment. Roach said later that he had written out his comments as the House debated amendments to the bill and said it was "premeditated" to bring up Keith Kessler's name.

He did it, he said, because he's frustrated with how little impact Republicans have in the House this year. There are 62 Democrats and 36 Republicans.

"We have no voice. I have no way to communicate what is going on. If I didn't do what I did today you wouldn't be calling me right now," he said. "I want to be heard and if that's what it takes, to do theatrics on the floor, then that's what's going to happen."

The bill, called the Insurance Fair Conduct Act, would allow a court to award triple damages if it can be shown that an insurance company unreasonably denied a claim or violated unfair practice rules.

Roach is the son of Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, who's known for her own theatrics on the floor. In 1998, she lashed out after someone moved a bouquet of flowers from her desk, shouting at her colleagues: "I don't want even a pencil moved on my desk."

Lynn Kessler called Roach's apology a "slap in the face" and said he's not fit to serve in the House.

"I find him just the epitome of who should not be in the Legislature," she said. "If you can't be an adult here then you have no business being here and the rules are set up for a reason and he should abide by them."

This material has been edited for print publication from what appeared in the blog.

David Postman is The Seattle Times' chief political reporter. Reach him at 360-236-8267 or at dpostman@seattletimes.com