Yes yes yes I know what we all think of the great minds at the Spokesman-Review.
They had this to say about Joe Pakootas. whom they “admire for his business achievements and community and tribal contributions”, in their not glowing endorsement of McMorris Rodgers,which reads like they phoned it in.
Pakootas has had to run an uphill campaign against a well-financed and high-profile incumbent, and he has done so by stressing his success running his own business and restructuring the Colville Tribe’s faltering enterprises.
He had to make tough decisions – closing some and laying off employees – but they make a profit today.
His is the kind of story Republicans would celebrate if he were not a Democrat.
“The Spokesman-Review endorses her bid for a sixth term, but with some qualification.”
Renewed authorization of the Export-Import Bank, for example, is vital to Washington’s aerospace industry, including dozens of companies in Eastern Washington. McMorris Rodgers, alone among the state’s nine other representatives and two senators, has been unenthusiastic about the bank, which helps finance aircraft purchases. This is the biggest jobs bill on the congressional agenda for Washington, and she needs to tune out tea party claims of cronyism.
They acknowledge the toxicity of D.C. and point to the firestorm over McMorris Rodgers’ “probably” here to stay comment about Obamacare as an example of the “risk of breaking ranks”. And then they suggest...
When her constituent interests are at stake, McMorris Rodgers should do so more often.
That’s not necessary in the case of Fairchild, the region’s biggest single-site employer and the magnet for the region’s largest population of military retirees. The base will need a strong advocate in the potential event the armed services are called upon to downsize, and McMorris Rodgers will be that person in the House.
...”that person in the House” to advocate for Fairchild Air Force Base has demonstrated minimal influence in the past. Our Washington senators, especially Senator Patty Murray, are the heavy lifters regarding Fairchild. The arguments for keeping CMR in office get thinner every year and protecting Fairchild has been used every cycle. Considering the importance to the local economy it is absurd to think McMorris Rodgers is the only one who would, as she herself says, “...intend to work with my Washington State colleagues and others to continue making that case to the Air Force as vigorously as possible.”
People here do realize just how important both our senators are in looking out for us. That shows up in the recent primary’s votes.
Looking at Spokane County votes by themselves with a 34.02% turnout
U.S. Senator
Patty Murray (D) 43,378 44.8%
Chris Vance (R) 29,047 30.0%
Governor
Jay Inslee (D) 38,921 39.68%
Bill Bryant (R) 43,239 44.09%
U.S. Representative
McMorris Rodgers (R) 40,067 40.35%
Joe Pakootas (D) 31,899 32,12%
Dave Wilson (I) 15,127 15.23%
Tom Horne (R) 10,349 10.42%
McMorris Rodgers didn’t do as well as Sen. Murray or as well as Bill Bryant and did only slightly better than Gov Jay Inslee.
In the Presidential primary in May the results in Spokane County only for Trump alone were
41,935, 74.33%. Turnout was 36.9%. She didn’t get as many votes as Trump did then.
Back to the editorial-
The Spokane VA hospital, like others throughout the system, also needs more resources to provide care and therapy to veterans. As a high-ranking Republican, McMorris Rodgers can see that the hospital and other regional facilities caring for veterans do not get overlooked.
As I wrote here. that would be exactly what she doesn’t want to see.
They close with this-
But with the GOP odds-on to retain the House and potentially become majority party in the Senate, McMorris Rodgers will be better-positioned than Pakootas to work for Eastern Washington if she is re-elected. We encourage voters to give her a sixth term.
Well, my crystal ball is not as clear as theirs on the potential for the GOP in the Senate. And beside I’m fairly certain they already are the majority party. But I will agree on this point — give her her sixth term. She’s had it...cause this (6th) re-election would mean a seventh term and so it would be the end.
And then we could have an actual Representative- JOE PAKOOTAS
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