NPI formally endorses Maria Cantwell

Today, the Northwest Progressive Institute is proud to announce its formal endorsement for the reelection of Maria Cantwell to the United States Senate.
It's our first endorsement after the 2004 election cycle, and it is an early endorsement. But it's one we are confident about making. Senator Cantwell isn't quite as progressive as Senator Murray, but we believe she's done a good job during her first term in the Senate and that she deserves to be reelected.

The Republicans would love to see a Democrat rise up to challenge Senator Cantwell in the primary. We hope that our endorsement encourages other groups and individuals to close ranks behind Senator Cantwell so that she can focus all her resources on the general election.

Over the last six years, Senator Cantwell has taken positions on a wide variety of issues. Below is a summary of many of the important votes and positions she has taken on a number of key issues.

Economic Policies

• Don’t privatize; stock market is too risky. (Oct 2000)


• Voted NO on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001


• Protect overtime pay protections. (Jun 2003)


• Rated 85% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-labor voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (May 2003)
• Voted NO on cutting taxes by $1.35 trillion over 11 years. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. (May 2001)


• Voted YES on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001)
• Tax credits to promite home ownership in distressed areas. (Apr 2003)

Education

• Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)


• Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)


• Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)


• Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)

Energy & Power

• Voted NO on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)


• Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003)


• Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003)


• Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)


• Voted NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002)


• Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy. (Mar 2004)

The Environment

• Supported UNCED Rio Declaration at 2002 conference. (Jul 2002)


• Rated 100% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)


• EPA must do better on mercury clean-up. (Apr 2004)


• Close the gun-show loophole; favors trigger locks. (Oct 2000)


• Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. (Mar 2004)

Healthcare

• Voted YES on allowing importation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002)


• Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)


• Voted NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)


• Invest funds to alleviate the nursing shortage. (Apr 2001)


• Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations. (May 2003)


• Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)

National Defense

• Federalize aviation security. (Nov 2001)


• Small business in developing homeland security technologies. (Jul 2002)


• Supported veteran benefits in Congress. (Nov 2000)

International Affairs

• Ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. (Nov 2000)


• Stopping Balkan genocide is within US national interests. (Oct 2000)


• Limited but effective role for US in Mideast. (Oct 2000)


• Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. (Dec 2003)


• Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism. (Oct 2001)

Media

• Voted YES on disallowing FCC approval of larger media conglomerates. (Sep 2003)

Additionally, Senator Cantwell has fought to preserve the Roadless Rule and hold Enron accountable for its attempts to bilk consumers in Washington state, especially customers of Snohomish County PUD, which is currently fighting Enron in court to avoid having to pay the company millions of dollars in money Enron claims it's owed.

Senator Cantwell has been a key player in pressuring the FERC to release key tapes that provide insight into Enron's descipable and unethical business practices several years ago during the West's energy crises.

Maria has shown us that, like Senator Patty Murray, she's willing to step up to the plate and fight for Washingtonians.

NPI believes that her overall record is strong enough to overcome any missteps or blemishes, such as her vote authorizing the current war in Iraq.

Recognizing the urgent need to take back our country from the Republican Noise Machine, and that Senator Maria Cantwell has done a good job of representing Washington State in the United States Senate, we hereby endorse Maria Cantwell's reelection bid for that office in 2006.