Washblog

Two More Candidates in 8th Congressional Race

Two new candidates announced their intention to run for U.S. House in the 8th Congressional District tonight. Menno van Wyk, Founder and CEO of Montrail, Inc. and Paul Abrams, a physician with a law degree from Yale and a background in the biotech industry. I've posted on Mr. Abrams previously. Don't know if they've formally filed yet.

Randy Gordon: Personal Ambition Took a Back Seat to Democratic Unity

Randy Gordon and I talked at the Unity Caucus in Renton on Sunday. He was as energetic as usual -- and obviously at ease with his decision to bow out of the race for U.S. House of Representatives in the 8th Congressional District (8th CD). As many readers will remember, he has just recently withdrawn, leaving only one Democratic candidate in the field -- at least for now -- Darcy Burner. The 8th CD race is of key national importance.

He wanted to discuss a new idea -- the potential of using the funds he raised during his campaign to form a 527 organization that could help support races in the 8th CD this year, including the Congressional race. The funds could be used, for example, for advance purchases of radio or TV ads for the candidate who faces Reichert in the fall. He'd have to get written permission from the donors, he said. I'll sign onto that deal, I said, that's a good one. I had wondered what would happen with the not inconsiderable funds he raised during his race.

There's sharp disappointment here in the 8th CD that Randy has bowed out. I've received emails saying it's unfair, that he was the best candidate and he should have stayed and fought.

Drilling in ANWR: How WA Reps voted

December 28, 2005 update to this post: I was informed by Jim DiPeso of Repamerica that Reichert supported a Point of Order in the House that would have stripped the ANWR drilling authorization out of the Defense Appropriations bill.

House Resolution 639 waived this Point of Order, therefore allowing the ANWR drilling provision to stay in the bill. Reichert's nay vote on 639 went against the Republican mainstream (there were 21 Republican nays to 179 yeas). The other two Washington Republicans in the US House, Doc Hastings and Kathy McMorris, voted yea.

Sixteen Democrats voted on the other side (for 639). These Democrats were effectively voting for drilling in ANWR. If they had voted no on 639, as Reichert did, the Point of Order would have prevailed and the ANWR drilling authorization would have been stripped out of the appropriations bill in the House. The appropriations bill then went to the Senate, of course, where Washington's Maria Cantwell led the effort to defeat it.

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It's worth keeping up with how Washington State's U.S. Representatives are voting on the issue of oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). This is a particularly acute concern for those of us in the 8th Congressional District, where Dave Reichert has been closely watched on his environmental votes.

Here's the roll call for the version of H.R.2863, "Making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes," that passed in the House today. The conference report section of this bill contains language that will authorize drilling in ANWR if it passes the Senate.

As we see, Reichert, this time, voted for oil exploration in ANWR. (See note at head of this entry)

Reichert's known for breaking ranks with the Republicans on ANWR by opposing oil exploration in that reserve. In fact, he has broken ranks on several environmental issues, pleasing many of his moderate voters here in the 8th. The suspicion -- based on information from several sources -- is that he has been choosing votes carefully to preserve his appearance of being a moderate -- but doing so in ways that don't affect final outcomes. Given the vulnerability of the 8th Congressional District in this coming election -- and the fact that it may prove to be a tipping point in the balance of power in the House -- it is clear that the Republican in the House has a strong motive to shield Reichert.

As far as this scheme to slip drilling authorization into a defense appropriations bill, The Wilderness Society puts it well:

"It is outrageous that Arctic Refuge drilling has been slipped into the defense appropriations bill. This kind of legislative action is the height of cynicism and bad politics. Major national policy priorities must not be hijacked for the sake of personal political agendas. A vote to remove the arctic drilling provision does not threaten funding for the troops, but rather is a vote to move defense funding quickly and in the normal course of business."

It's time to call our Senators on this one:

Murray: (202) 224-2621, Web form
Cantwell: (202) 224-3441, Web form

Reichert: His votes contradict his moderate rhetoric

A letter to the editor, by Laurence DeShields, the President of the Board of Directors of the Community Health Centers of King County, appeared in the King County Journal today.

Shields tells readers about a recent vote by Representative Reichert: "Congress is currently debating legislation allowing states to reduce patient benefit levels and impose increased cost-sharing, including deductibles and premiums on Medicaid beneficiaries. The House version of the bill threatens health care access for our most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately, Congressman Dave Reichert's support for the bill allowed its passage by the narrowest possible margin, 217-215."

This behavior is in line with a pattern that characterizes Reichert's votes overall. He appears to find ways to portray himself as supportive of the moderate values important to his constituents in the 8th Congressional District -- but then he votes against these values on key bills in order to advance immoderate Republican values. Typically, he and other Republicans then scramble to provide cover for these apparent contradictions.

Reichert's vote, right before Memorial day, against health insurance coverage for members of the National Guard and Reserve is a case in point. Reichert was one of 12 Republicans opposing a motion to H.R. 1815 that would have expanded the TRICARE insurance program to National Guard members and Reservists. He didn't report this negative vote on his home page. But he did announce, on May 26, just about the same time, his positive vote on H.R. 2528, the Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. This piece, entitled Reichert votes to improve lives of armed forces contains the following statement: “It is critical that we send a strong message to our men and women in uniform that we support them. Today’s legislation will help to improve their quality of life ... This Memorial Day I will spend the holiday overseas with our troops in Iraq. It is only fitting that while these soldiers are working so hard to defend our country we do all we can for them here in Congress.”

The 8th CD, where Reichert serves, is a swing district, known for favoring "moderate" candidates. Reichert's predecessor, Republican Jennifer Dunn, was famous for portraying herself as a moderate on the environment and reproductive choice, though I've heard that she too tended to vote with the Republican majority on these issues. This seat is one of the keys to holding a Republican majority in the House in 2006 and Reichert, as a a first-termer, is especially vulnerable. Progressives and conservatives alike have given it strategic attention. MoveOn has assigned one of its 10 or so full-time organizers to this district. And it is becoming increasingly clear that Reichert's Republican friends are assiduously protecting his reputation as a moderate in order to protect his -- and their -- 2006 chances.

Back in October, Alicia Mundy of the Seattle PI wrote an incisive article on Reichert's apparent use of this strategy in the Seattle PI.

I am shocked

That Cathy McMorris didn't get her share.

"You guys are pathetic! Pathetic!"

So says Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA) in this article about yesterday's debacle ensuing from Jack Murtha's proposed amendment to begin withdrawal from Iraq. 

Murtha, a 37-year Marine veteran and considered the voice of the Pentagon brass on Capitol Hill, suggested that since our mission in Iraq has been accomplished (depose Saddam - check, start democracy - check, stop WMD production - check by default), and our troops are now nothing more than walking bullseyes and recruiting posters for insurgents, it's time to begin withdrawal from Iraq.  His amendment called for redeployment at the earliest "practicable date", establishing a quick-reaction force and Marine presence in the area, and pursuit of stability through diplomacy.  Of course, such measured approaches to withdrawal are anathema to the Republican mind, which reads all this as "cut and run".

Coalition puts pressure on Reichert to vote against federal budget bill for Arctic oil drilling

Kudos to Congressman Reichert for standing up to the House leadership and protecting the interests of his constituents on the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. (Coalition puts pressure on Reichert to vote againstfederal budget bill for Arctic oil drilling.) The public has repeatedly told this administration that protecting this vitally important and special place is more important than drilling for a small amount of oil. The US Department of Energy’s own Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that even when Arctic Refuge oil is at peak production, twenty years form now, gas prices would be affected by about a penny per gallon. It is simply not worth destroying a world class wildlife sanctuary and wilderness, especially when we have the opportunity to pursue a responsible strategy of conservation and investment in renewable energy sources.

As a constituent of Congressman Reichert, I sincerely thank him for his strong stance under enormous pressure, and hope that he continues to lead this country toward a more responsible energy future.Please submit a letter to letterstoeditor@kingcountyjournal.com supporting Congressman Reichert’s stand against drilling in the arctic.

DeLay indicted on conspiracy charge

Break out the bubbly! Texas grand jury indicts House Majority Leader Tom DeLay:

According to DeLay's lawyer, the grand jury indicted DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme.

The indictment could force DeLay to step down as House majority leader.

House Republican Party rules require leaders who are indicted to temporarily step aside from their leadership posts. The indictment comes on the last day of the grand jury's term.

MSNBC reports that DeLay will step down and Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.,will recommend that Congressman David Dreier, R-Calif., will take over DeLay's duties.

DeLay indictment watch

From the Dallas Morning News, Republican House Majority Leader Tom Delay may be indicted today by a grand jury in Travis County, TX on conspiracy charges related to the activities of his political action committee, Texans for a Republican Majority, TRMPAC.

Delay's Delusion

Mission Accomplished verbage used once again, this time by Republican House Majority Whip Tom Delay.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said yesterday that Republicans have done so well in cutting spending that he declared an "ongoing victory," and said there is simply no fat left to cut in the federal budget. Mr. DeLay was defending Republicans' choice to borrow money and add to this year's expected $331 billion deficit...

Atrios points out that Delay is once again full of it:

And, it must be pointed out, that federal expenditures as a percentage of GDP were higher in 2002,2003, and 2004 than they were in 1997,1998, and 1999.