Read a Pacific Northwest, liberal perspective on world, national, and local politics. From majestic Redmond, Washington - the Northwest Progressive Institute Advocate.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown condemns BIAW - where's Speaker Chopp?

Minutes ago, Chris Gregoire's gubernatorial campaign released the text of an open letter to Washingtonians jointly written by state Senators Lisa Brown and Chris Marr, who represent two Spokane legislative districts in Olympia.

The letter calls on Dino Rossi to reject BIAW (Building Industry Association of Washington) advertising, including billboards in Eastern Washington that say, "Don't Let Seattle Steal This Election".

We applaud the letter and commend its authors...but we want to know - where's Speaker Frank Chopp? Why isn't his name on this letter as well? (And how about Chopp's deputy, Majority Leader Lynn Kessler?)

It seems like a fair question to ask.

Brown is the top Democrat in the state Senate. Chopp (as Speaker) is the top Democrat in the state House. The two frequently work together...they appealed to progressives across Washington State last year to fight against Tim Eyman's Initiative 960, cosigning a fundraising letter.

What's more, the BIAW is insinuating that constituents in Chopp's district, the 43rd, helped rig the election for the Democratic candidate.

Chopp's signature on this letter would send a strong, reassuring message that he dislikes the BIAW's hardball tactics, attacks on his district, and nasty anti-Gregoire rhetoric. Unfortunately, it's not there now - but it could be added.

And we hope it will be. We at NPI have a simple request to make of Speaker Chopp: Please add your name to this letter. Join your fellow Democrats in rejecting the BIAW's cunningly destructive advertising. Refute the BIAW and Rossi's false notion that Democrats in Olympia are arrogant and completely ignorant of Washingtonians' concerns.

We largely share the same vision for the Evergreen State, Mr. Speaker. As Democrats, we must work together to turn that vision into a reality.

Politics is a team sport. Though we may not agree on everything, we appreciate your many years of fine leadership in the House and respect your accomplishments as leader of the Democratic caucus.

We ask that you join us in doing everything you can to help reelect Governor Chris Gregoire - including adding your name as a signatory to this letter.
An open letter to Washingtonians,

We have accomplished some incredible things in Washington in the last few years. From creating more than 200,000 new jobs, to expanding healthcare to 84,000 more kids to turning a $2.2 billion deficit into a surplus.

How were we able to do this? By working together as One Washington.

Like most others, we want to keep making progress and moving past the petty divisions of the past.

So we were surprised to see the words “Don’t Let Seattle Steal This Election” appear under the name of Dino Rossi on 61 billboards in Spokane.

The ads were paid for by the Building Industry Association of Washington, Olympia’s most powerful special interest lobbyists, a group that has already spent more than $1 million to support the candidacy of their friend, Mr. Rossi.

Less than one month ago, Mr. Rossi spoke at the BIAW’s annual convention. During his introduction of Mr. Rossi, BIAW President Brad Spears said, “We finally have an electable candidate who believes as the BIAW believes...”

The BIAW believes it is time drive a wedge between people in our state, and it’s time for us to find out if Mr. Rossi agrees.

We are calling upon Dino Rossi to denounce and reject the BIAW’s ads and join our call for the billboards come down.

We deserve to know if Mr. Rossi truly “believes as the BIAW believes…”

We may not agree with Mr. Rossi on every issue, but we hope we can at least agree that it is wrong to dredge up the divisions of our past in an election about our future.

Sincerely,

Senator Lisa Brown, majority leader, (D) Spokane
Senator Chris Marr, majority assistant floor leader, (D) Spokane
Washington State can't afford a George W. Bush wannabe for governor. We've worked too hard and come too far to lose ground now.

We Democrats must unite behind our governor and work to ensure the next four years are filled with progress and opportunity.

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