Do as we say, not as we do

Sometimes the state government in Salem is so bad that it's hard to believe. This week we learned that the bureau charged with protecting people's civil rights in the workplace is accused of being a racist employer itself. 

And the operation in question is headed by someone named Val Hoyle, who is rumored to be planning a bid to run for governor. Her response to the complaint is typical Oregon: Hire a big-bucks private law firm in Portland to look into it. Great.

The accuser in this case, Carol Johnson, got out of Dodge and is now apparently the civil rights director for the City of Austin, Texas. She's suing Oregon for a cool $2.3 million.