State of Washington secondary Archives: on Government Reform

Dino Rossi: Call to halt earmarks; that's what's wrong with D.C.

Rossi said he's been listening to voters as he travels the state, noting conversations with struggling small-business owners and a 50-year-old man who nearly came to tears talking about being unemployed for two years.

Rossi accused Murray of heading to Congress with good intentions years ago but claimed she's changed since then to become a D.C. insider. He ripped her record as a prolific sponsor of earmarks, citing a Seattle Times report about former Murray staffers now cashing in on their connections as lobbyists, garnering nearly $20 million in earmarks for clients in a recent defense bill alone. "That's precisely what's wrong with Washington, D.C. That's what has to change," Rossi said.

Murray defended her record, and said Rossi would shortchange important Washington state projects with his call to halt earmarks and cut the federal budget.

Patty Murray: Halting earmarks shortchanges important state projects

Rossi accused Murray of heading to Congress with good intentions years ago but claimed she's changed since then to become a D.C. insider. He ripped her record as a prolific sponsor of earmarks, citing a Seattle Times report about former Murray staffers now cashing in on their connections as lobbyists, garnering nearly $20 million in earmarks for clients in a recent defense bill alone. "That's precisely what's wrong with Washington, D.C. That's what has to change," Rossi said.

Murray defended her record, and said Rossi would shortchange important Washington state projects with his call to halt earmarks and cut the federal budget while insisting on $1 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

Pramila Jayapal: Automatic voter registration & felon re-enfranchisement

Pramila Jayapal: Overturn Citizens United; dark money stifles elections

That's why in the State Senate, Pramila spearheaded a letter to Congress, signed by all members of the Democratic caucus, calling on them to overturn Citizens United.

Tiffany Smiley: Opposes election reform bill; supports voter ID

What our system needs are commonsense solutions that are overwhelming supported by the American people. Reforms like implementing Voter ID, modernizing local county voting systems to ensure the voter rolls are kept up-to-date, and signature/photo verification on mail-in ballots would strengthen our elections. Just as important, I believe that courts have an obligation to give all evidence of voter fraud a full and fair hearing.