(The Center Square) – The Speaker pro tempore of the Washington State House of Representatives thinks her colleagues should discuss possible action against state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who has refused to resign amid allegations of abusive behavior toward employees.

Asked about possible legislative sanctions against the commissioner, state Rep, Tina Orwall (D-Kent) told The Center Square, “I certainly want to reach out to our Speaker and make sure we are having those conversations. I think that’s something our Speaker and leadership team need to discuss.”

Kreidler, 78, has been in office since 2001. He has been under fire for allegedly poor treatment of staff members including angry outbursts, using inappropriate language, bullying, and antagonizing staff members.

Matters came to a head after Kreidler fired legislative liaison Jon Noski, who had filed a whistleblower complaint with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner on Feb. 4 alleging “emotional outbursts towards me and other staff for trivial reasons that are often misunderstandings of reality.”

“I think we’re all pretty disappointed and appalled,” Orwall said. “It takes a lot of courage for a state employee to be a whistleblower. A lot of us have been wondering what the legislature should do.”

At a minimum, Orwall would like to see that the legislature establishes clear authority for investigating reports of retaliation. The state auditor investigates whistleblower complaints but does not have the...

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