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Sunday, October 29, 2006
Outlook for Washington's delegation if power shifts Democrats' way
Washington could gain congressional clout if Democrats win control of the U.S. House or Senate in the Nov. 7 election and the state’s incumbents are returned to office. Six of the nine House
members and both U.S. senators are Democrats. Also, the state’s Democrats as a whole have more seniority than the Republicans. These are the top issues the Democrats say they’d push if their party comes to power, and the current committee assignments for the Republicans.
COMPILED BY ALICIA MUNDY / Seattle Times Washington, D.C., bureau
| The incumbent Democrats |
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Sen. Maria Cantwell
Elected to Congress: 2000
Top issues:
End special tax and royalty breaks for oil companies, cut prescription-drug costs by monitoring profits from drug companies’ ownership of pharmaceutical benefits managers |
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Sen. Patty Murray
Elected to Congress: 1992
Top issues:
Wild Sky Wilderness Act to preserve 106,000 acres in Snohomish County, use her seat on Appropriations Committee to review the Veterans Administration’s budgets and its care of disabled Iraq vets |
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Rep. Brian Baird, Vancouver, 3rd District
Elected to Congress: 1998
Top issues:
Mandate that all legislation be completed and available for review for last-minute earmarks and deletions at least three days before the vote; permanent state sales-tax deduction on federal taxes |
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Rep. Norm Dicks, Bremerton, 6th District
Elected to Congress: 1976
Top issues:
Money for parks and forests, track abuse of EPA rules, and protect specialized programs for American Indians; use seat on Defense Appropriations subcommittee for oversight hearings on money spent in Iraq by U.S. companies and Iraqi leaders, as well as the costs of the war |
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Rep. Jay Inslee, Bainbridge Island, 1st District
Elected to Congress: 1998
Top issues:
The New Apollo Energy Act to reduce reliance on foreign oil and lower greenhouse gases; promote bills to protect consumers against ID theft, hacking and spamming |
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Rep. Rick Larsen, Lake Stevens, 2nd District
Elected to Congress: 2000
Top issues:
Wild Sky Wilderness Act to preserve 106,000 acres in Snohomish County; Northern Border Prosecution Initiative to require the federal government to pay the cost of jailing foreign criminal suspects while they await trial or appeal |
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Rep. Jim McDermott, Seattle, 7th District
Elected to Congress: 1988
Top issues:
Health coverage for the uninsured and America’s middle-aged middle class; use senior role on Ways and Means taxation committee to create energy policy and end foreign-oil dependence |
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Rep. Adam Smith, Tacoma, 9th District
Elected to Congress: 1996
Top issues:
Expand Trade Adjustment Improvement Act, which helps American manufacturing workers displaced by globalization, to include high-tech workers and aerospace employees in defense programs |
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The incumbent Republicans |
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Rep. Doc Hastings, Pasco, 4th District
Elected to Congress: 1994
Current assignment:
Chairman of the ethics committee, third-ranking member of the Rules Committee (controls the flow and content of legislation), assistant majority whip |
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Rep. Cathy McMorris, Spokane, 5th District
Elected to Congress: 2004
Current assignment:
Member of the Armed Services, Resources and Education committees |
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Rep. Dave Reichert, Auburn, 8th District
Elected to Congress: 2004
Current assignment:
Member of Homeland Security, Transportation and Science committees; chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology |
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