GOP may strengthen firewall in state Senate
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Republican lawmakers may have a minority in the state Senate, but they also have a chance to expand their influence with the help of two moderate Democrats.
Democratic Sens. Rodney Tom of Bellevue and Tim Sheldon of Potlatch have both signaled in recent days they aren't going to endorse their party's leadership to control the chamber.
That could lead to some sort of power-sharing agreement, a different Senate Majority Leader and a situation where a mix of both Democrats and Republicans hold committee chairs.
Tom said the public wants to see government operate without party labels.
"We need to govern more out of the middle," Tom said.
The move would escalate an effort last year in which Tom and Sheldon worked with Republicans on the budget, helping drive some major changes on pensions and balanced budgets.
Both parties are still forming their leadership and committee teams after this month's election, and the Legislature returns to work in early January.
The state Senate now serves as a firewall for Republican policy. They have little power in the House and lost a chance this year to take the governor's office.
The party now holds just one statewide seat: a secretary of state position that has a minimal role outside of managing elections.
Much of the GOP strength in the Senate could also fall apart if a recount alters the outcome of a legislative race.
The Clark County seat held by Republican Sen. Don Benton is headed to a recount as Benton now holds a lead of roughly 100 votes over Democratic Rep. Tim Probst.
A win by Benton would give Democrats a 26-23 advantage, meaning defections by Tom and Sheldon can give power to a GOP-led coalition. A win by Probst would give Democrats a more solid leadership advantage.
Democratic Sen. Ed Murray, who was recently chosen by fellow Democrats to lead the caucus, said Tom and others are essentially looking to toss Senate precedent and tradition, creating what he deemed a poisonous atmosphere in the chamber.
He believed it would be more productive for one party or the other to be in full control of the chamber.
Murray sent off a letter this week to Senate Republicans, asking for a meeting between the leadership teams after the two parties had completed those internal votes.
"Our goal is to recognize the fluid nature of the Senate at present and to govern accordingly," Murray wrote in the letter, which he signed with the title of Senate Majority Leader.
Republican Sen. Mark Schoesler of Ritzville, who has been serving as the Republican Floor Leader, said it's still not clear how the proposal of a coalition leadership would work.
But he said there was support from Republicans for moving policy based on a philosophical majority instead of a political one - particularly on issues like education, government reform and fiscal responsibility.
"I'm optimistic that we can do good things and show people a path that's different from the other Washington," Schoesler said.
Democratic Sens. Rodney Tom of Bellevue and Tim Sheldon of Potlatch have both signaled in recent days they aren't going to endorse their party's leadership to control the chamber.
That could lead to some sort of power-sharing agreement, a different Senate Majority Leader and a situation where a mix of both Democrats and Republicans hold committee chairs.
Tom said the public wants to see government operate without party labels.
"We need to govern more out of the middle," Tom said.
The move would escalate an effort last year in which Tom and Sheldon worked with Republicans on the budget, helping drive some major changes on pensions and balanced budgets.
Both parties are still forming their leadership and committee teams after this month's election, and the Legislature returns to work in early January.
The state Senate now serves as a firewall for Republican policy. They have little power in the House and lost a chance this year to take the governor's office.
The party now holds just one statewide seat: a secretary of state position that has a minimal role outside of managing elections.
Much of the GOP strength in the Senate could also fall apart if a recount alters the outcome of a legislative race.
The Clark County seat held by Republican Sen. Don Benton is headed to a recount as Benton now holds a lead of roughly 100 votes over Democratic Rep. Tim Probst.
A win by Benton would give Democrats a 26-23 advantage, meaning defections by Tom and Sheldon can give power to a GOP-led coalition. A win by Probst would give Democrats a more solid leadership advantage.
Democratic Sen. Ed Murray, who was recently chosen by fellow Democrats to lead the caucus, said Tom and others are essentially looking to toss Senate precedent and tradition, creating what he deemed a poisonous atmosphere in the chamber.
He believed it would be more productive for one party or the other to be in full control of the chamber.
Murray sent off a letter this week to Senate Republicans, asking for a meeting between the leadership teams after the two parties had completed those internal votes.
"Our goal is to recognize the fluid nature of the Senate at present and to govern accordingly," Murray wrote in the letter, which he signed with the title of Senate Majority Leader.
Republican Sen. Mark Schoesler of Ritzville, who has been serving as the Republican Floor Leader, said it's still not clear how the proposal of a coalition leadership would work.
But he said there was support from Republicans for moving policy based on a philosophical majority instead of a political one - particularly on issues like education, government reform and fiscal responsibility.
"I'm optimistic that we can do good things and show people a path that's different from the other Washington," Schoesler said.
Finally some Democrats coming to their senses.  I hope more of them become a little bit conservative because the Progressives have hijacked the Democrats good name and what it used to stand for. Let's go back to the old school thinking and be thoughtful and not wasteful with our hard earned tax dollars.
...let's hope more Democrats can see the light, do the right thing, and join the right.
Inslee is a dunce.....the more who jump what will be a sinking ship, the better for all of us.
Four more years of continued liberal leftist leadership losers will lead to lower income for all of us via new "revenue" enhancements & fees, (taxes...but shhhhhhh.....Dems don't like to use the real word)
The only ones to profit will be State employees, and those who game/ scam/ cheat the social welfare programs.
One is no better than the other in the end, and both, when looked at in a very realistic way, are the same..inter-changeable, parallel, and Borg minded....with a President who accommodates their wishes with promises of redistribution because they can not find the bootstraps on their footwear.
"Democratic Sen. Ed Murray, who was recently chosen by fellow Democrats to lead the caucus, said Tom and others are essentially looking to toss Senate precedent and tradition, creating what he deemed a poisonous atmosphere in the chamber.
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He believed it would be more productive for one party or the other to be in full control of the chamber."
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Um, no. Â It may be more productive in your mind if one party controls everything but that doesn't make it a good choice. Â We've seen what happens when one party controls everything and it's not pretty. Â And no, I'm not a republican, I'm an independent and really wish the whole two party system would die.
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No matter what the Seante does as long as Frank Chopp heads up the House this state is screwed . Chopp stops so much from happening it is pathetic. he is a bully only doing what he wants,not even what his caucus wants.
"We need to govern more out of the middle," Tom said.
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Yes we do. Let's hope this comes to be.
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What's a 'moderate' democrat?
One that thinks you should come just a little to the left? As apposed to a big jump?
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Baby steps still lead to the edge of the cliff. One blood sucking leech is of little harm. Add 'em up and you get the death sentence.
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We're dieing here. One leech at a time. Much like the frog in the ever increasing heat of the pot of water, we're too stoopid to understand the outcome.
I'm so glad these two senators are willing to take that stand, they seem to understand what the people want and are willing to do their jobs. We need more people like this in the government who actually realize that more can get done if both parties work together. To have one party dominate everything just leaves us with the same ole same ole and we already know what that is.
 @Jatok So who from the GOP side of the isle is willing to do the same thing and work the Dems?
@rockguy  The GOP gets railroaded all the time because the Dems have been in control for so long and this is why we always have budget issues.  Why would you think THEY need to work with the Dems?   Â
 @rockguy  @Jatok Mike Carrell,Don Benton,Mike Baumgartner. can you name any others from the Progressives ?Â
@Maynard G Krebbs @rockguy You can slice this up anyway you want to, the bottom line still remains that the two parties need to work together on the issues affecting the people of this state. When supposidly mature adults can't work together to do the job they were elected to do then they shouldn't have the job to begin with.
@rockguy For some reason I find your post amusing. When the democrats have been in control they haven't exactly had to much regard for what the republicans thought. This democrat/republican stand off is getting rediculous. Who of them is just going to be content to do their job and run the state.
 @rockguy  @Jatok Everyone. They've had to do it all along.