While covering the early stages of the race for Washington State governor I've read comments asserting that Jay Inslee is a DINO, even a Scott Walker in disguise. There aren't a lot but they are consistent. And yes they may be trolls but they need to be addressed.
So your intrepid diarist decided to do something that seems quite unusual in the opinionated class. I did the Google thing and looked up his congressional voting record and his ranking on the liberal vs conservative scale.
Lets go beyond the squiggle and look at some facts.
There are two sites that are recognized as the congressional ranking standard. They are the ones most often quoted by the rest of the media. (Feel free to add other in your comments.)
The National Journal http://www.nationaljournal.com/...
That's My Congress http://thatsmycongress.com/...
Each uses different methodology in it's ranking system and I encourage you to spend time at their sites digging into the whys and were-fores.
More than we like to admit, we often make political choices on other reasons than the facts. Thus the oft quoted: “Don't confuse me with the facts. I've already made up my mind.” However, stay with me, and even if you come to believe that your analysis of the data from the ratings groups supports your conclusion that Jay Inslee is a Scott Walker in sheep's clothing at least you can throw in some facts to back up you incorrect position.
Is Jay Inslee the flaming liberal, pinko-commie, socialist, Fascist, big-government liberal, that the upcoming bombardment of ads will claim? Hell no. As a liberal he doesn't come close to Dennis Kusinich or even his neighbor in the 7th, Jim McDermott.
If he is a Manchurian Conservative that some believe? I don't see it. No he hasn't voted a straight line progressive caucus agenda but neither has anyone else.
The National Journal rates Jay Inslee the 123rd most liberal representative with a score of 72.8% based on his 2011-2012 voting record. He voted liberal, as they define it, 72.8% of the time. Compare that to Jim McDermott at 56th and 86.1%. Our most liberal representative is still only the 56th most liberal member of the house. Top honors are shared by Lynn Woolsy (D) CA and Raul Grijalva D AZ (That's right Arizona for gods sake.). They voted liberal 92% of the time.
That's My Congress doesn't rank members in order but assigns them a percentage voting score based once again on how they define liberal and conservative. They publish the individual bills, amendments and resolutions and how the congressman's action contributed to either the liberal or conservative side of the equation. I'll list a brief over view of some but by all means go to the site and dig into Jays actual voting record for yourself.
That's My Congress rates Jay Inslee at 66/12 which means that he voted with the liberal as they define it agenda 66% of the time and conservative 12%. By comparison Jim McDermott is 71 liberal and 7 conservative. (By their methodology the numbers don't always add up to 100.)
(The easiest way I found to find individual congressmen is to click on By State at the top of the page, hit End to scroll down to WA, then click on Inslee.
So here's the partial list of bills and how he voted. Each action title is a hot link at the site but in the interest of time I haven't added them here. I took the first seven in a row on the liberal side and all five of the conservative ones. Please go to the site to see the rest so you can make or respond to comments from an informed stand-point.
Liberal Votes: (Includes bills, resolutions, amendments and sponsorships.)
H. Amdt 16 to H.R. 1
Spending billions of dollars for two separate manufacturing systems in two separate companies to make two versions of an engine, with identical performance, for the same airplane – the F-35.....
Rep. Inslee has taken a liberal course of action by voting for this bill.
H.R. 572
The Federal Motor Carrier Act does not allow states and municipalities to establish environmental safeguards for ports that are more stringent than the federal standard. H.R. 572, the Clean Ports Act, removes this impediment so communities can add environmental protections for the ports whose cleanliness and integrity they rely upon....
Rep. Inslee has taken a liberal course of action by cosponsoring this bill.
H.R. 471
In a roll-call vote in 2010, the U.S. Senate ended the federally-mandated voucher program for Washington DC called the “DC Opportunity Scholarships.” In this voucher program, public money was taken away from of public schools and given to private schools — 82% of which were religious....
Rep. Inslee has taken a liberal course of action by voting against this bill.
Some have commented that Jay supports charter schools but he voted against the voucher plan in DC so maybe we need to look closer at his views.
Rooney Amendment 13 to H.R. 1
To a majority in Congress, keeping the nitrogen and phosphorus flowing into Florida's waters toxic is more important than saving lives. A legislative amendment was introduced by Rep. Thomas Rooney in the House of Representatives in February 2011; it blocks the federal government from implementing the EPA's standards for Florida waters.....
Rep. Inslee took the liberal position on this amendment.
H.Amdt. 109
(Amendment to)eliminate two weapons programs that the Defense Department, Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the bipartisan fiscal commissions all say are not necessary,...
Rep. Inslee has taken a liberal course of action by voting for this amendment.
H.Amdt. 150
(An) amendment to the Republicans' main spending bill. The amendment would cut spending at the Department of Defense.....
Rep. Inslee has taken a liberal course of action by voting for this bill.
There are 28 additional liberal votes.
Conservative Votes: (This is all 5 of his conservative votes.)
H.R. 514
Bill reauthorizes the Patriot Act.
Rep. Inslee has followed a conservative course by voting for this bill.
H.R. 1540
Amendment to reduce Airforce and Naval budget.
Rep. Inslee has followed a conservative course by voting for this amendment.
H.Con.Res. 51
This resolution insists that President Obama comply with the 1973 War Powers Act as regards Libya.
Rep. Inslee has followed a conservative course by voting for this resolution.
H.R. 1540
This is the indefinite detention of US citizens bill.
Rep. Inslee has followed a conservative course by voting for this bill.
H.Con.Res. 13
On the first of November 2011, the House of Representatives voted to pass H.Con.Res. 13, the contains the following Congressional affirmations:
・ "The people of the United States have turned to God as their source for sustenance, protection, wisdom, strength, and direction"
・ "God, our Creator, as the source of our rights"
・ "Without God, there could be no American form of government"
Rep. Inslee has followed a conservative course by voting for this bill.
I can understand his vote not to reduce the Airforce and Naval Budget given that his district hosts Boeing and a Navy Homeport. He did vote for other military reductions though. H.Con.Res.13 is one of those loaded “have you stopped beating your wife” things. How do you vote against God and face those ads in the election? It's a disappointing vote but it's only a resolution and has no effect in law.
I admit that the others are serious but the Patriot Act has tripped up a lot of other liberals and I have no idea how anyone could vote for the obviously unconstitutional indefinite detention act. Next time I see him I'll ask that question and report back.
At number 123 out of 435 Jay Inslee is comfortably in the top one-third of liberals. He votes with the liberal caucus between 66 and 71% of the time. I would have to award him some extra conservative points for the severity of his votes for the Patriot Act and especially the Indefinite Detention bill but would still score him as a left leaning moderate overall.
Jay is for God and Apple Pie (H.Con.Res.13) and probably likes Pooties, Woozles and baby ducks too. He's against terrorists and votes to bring home the military-industrial bacon in his district. He votes liberal on all the rest. He has taken a strong stand supporting women's rights, healthcare, for Gay Marriage and against Don't Ask Don't Tell. He's not 100% pure but who is. With Rob McKenna as the alternative, I can live with it.
I queue my diaries to publish at 5:30 PM PDT so they will be available during the peak reading time in our state. Unfortunately I'm at work until 9 PM. I apologize in advance for not being here to answer comments. I do read all of them and respond as appropriate when I get home.
Please join our group and help elect Jay Inslee as our next WA Govornor and keep WA safely in the Blue.