Foundation says if department doesn't help county authorities, it will file formal complaints for violations of Federal law.

03:53 PM PDT on Thursday, June 3, 2004

KREM 2 News Staff

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A policy and research group in Olympia, the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, has sent an ultimatum to the Washington Department of Social and Health Services.

At issue is a series of reports in a KREM 2 News investigation in which Grant County authorities claimed the D-S-H-S was hampering criminal investigations into licensed day care operations, specifically in Mattawa, Washington.

State senator Joyce Mulliken said, "This issue goes to the core of government trust. I am committed to seeing a thorough investigation into the matter."

The D-S-H-S denies it is hampering Grant County investigations.

However, the foundation said if the D-S-H-S fails to provide Grant County authorities with requested paperwork on those day cares, the foundation will file formal complaints with the U.S. Health and Human Services Department and the General Accounting Office for violations of Federal law.