Group critical of congressional fundraising during shutdown

Nothing feeds a politician’s campaign coffers quite like a good partisan fight.

So it’s no surprise Democratic and Republican members of Congress across the country and here in Washington seized on Monday’s showdown then shutdown to raise campaign cash.

“Leadership is a privilege that House Republicans have done little to earn,” began an earnest email sent out by Democratic Congressman Rep. Rick Larsen of Everett. “This lack of leadership is about to result in a government shutdown.”

A few paragraphs later he concludes by asking for “$5, $10 or $25 to show the House Republicans that we’re fed up with their games and distractions. Stand with me, and let the majority party know that they need to earn the privilege of leadership.”

Fundraisers for Democratic Rep. Suzan DelBene of Medina struck a more strident note with the freshman congresswoman’s donors.

“You’ve seen how Tea Party Republicans are willing to shut down the government and threaten the full faith and credit of the United States to try to get their way — we can’t afford to give them a chance in our state,” reads her email. “We need your help right now to ensure Suzan’s seat stays out of Tea Party hands.”

As they and other members of Congress tried to cash in on the political brawl, a leader of Common Cause urged them to stand down.

“One would hope that every member would be so embarrassed by this breakdown that they would voluntarily suspend fundraising,” said Karen Hobert Flynn, senior vice president for strategy and programs for the nonpartisan political reform group.

Neither Larsen or DelBene is facing a challenger in 2014. At least not yet.

* * *

Prospects of lawmakers passing a transportation funding package in a special session next month are dimming rapidly.

Republican senators are in no hurry to act on a $10 billion proposal put forth by Democrats and they haven’t been for some time.

It’s not what’s in it per se though most members of the Senate Majority Coalition shudder at the inclusion of a 10.5-cent per gallon increase in the gas tax.

It’s what’s missing: all of the 10 reforms of state transportation policy offered up by the coalition this summer. Unless and until some of those proposed changes find their way into the proposal, they won’t be in the mood to pursue let alone forge an agreement.

“We’ve got to have some of these reforms,” said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, the coalition’s point-man on transportation. “Not all 10 but at least three or four of them. If we don’t get a substantial number of the reforms we won’t have agreement on a revenue package because we won’t have enough votes to get it out of our caucus.”

King singled out three: streamlining the permit process including rolling back state-imposed rules on environmental protection which exceed federal requirements; revamping the way the state builds ferries and allowing companies outside of Washington companies to build them; and redirecting sales tax collected on construction projects from the state’s general fund into transportation.

None of these are new issues for lawmakers yet there have been few serious conversations on incorporating them into a final deal.

Part of the reason is King and his caucus colleagues are busy traveling the state to solicit opinions on raising revenue and making reforms. Their listening tour, which had a stop in Everett, wraps up later this month.

King makes no predictions what will happen afterwards though he sounds skeptical.

“We are trying to move this forward. We are trying to gather information and come up with a package that has the buy-in from the public,” King said. “It is going to be tough but there’s a chance.”

Political reporter Jerry Cornfield’s blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com. Contact him at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order halting work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett will welcome new CEO in June

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Everett police searching for missing child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive. The child was missing under “suspicious circumstances.”

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.