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September 10, 2010 in City
Rossi’s earmark stance questioned
He didn’t object to similar process in state, Brown says
Republican Dino Rossi’s latest television commercial repeats an objection to certain types of federal spending known as earmarks that has become a hallmark of his campaign against incumbent U.S. Sen. Patty Murray.
That seems odd, state Sen. Lisa Brown, a Spokane Democrat, argued Thursday. When Rossi oversaw the state’s budget as a member and eventually chairman of the state Senate Ways and Means Committee, it had the legislative equivalent of earmarks and he didn’t object.
“He’s attacking Sen. Murray for a process that’s very similar to what we do in Olympia,” Brown said.
But there’s a difference between federal earmarks and state spending, Rossi’s campaign countered Thursday. The state’s budget by law must be balanced; the federal budget doesn’t, and isn’t.
“All of these earmarks add up, they all add to the deficit,” Jennifer Morris, a Rossi spokeswoman said. Until the federal budget is balanced, Rossi has vowed to swear off earmarks.
“He’s said if the project is worth doing, it’s worth doing through the normal budgeting process,” Morris said.
Murray defends the process of earmarking funds – essentially requiring that a portion of money set aside for a general program be spent in a specific place. As long as they are fully reviewed by staff, members of Congress know more about a community’s needs than a bureaucrat in Washington, D.C., she said.
But that means Congress may not vote on spending money for that particular earmark, just on a comprehensive bill, Rossi argues.
Brown, who is now the state Senate majority leader, was previously a member of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee and its chairwoman before Rossi was. It is common, regardless of what party is in power, for legislators to request funding for special community projects that aren’t of statewide significance, she said, for everything from a Spokane program to help homeless teens or a southwest Washington program to improve oyster beds.
The budgeting processes of the two legislative bodies are not exactly the same. But Brown thinks that the ability for elected officials to come up with money for local projects are similar enough that Rossi could have raised objections years ago. “If he has a principled disagreement with this process it would have shown up when he was chairman.”
Supermajority for taxes unconstitutional, judge rules 
Dazzeetrader11 on September 10 at 2:43 a.m.
Lisa Brown can’t shoot straight and bends the facts. Rossi never used earmarks. With her, it’s away of life and she wants the practice to continue with the earmark “QUEEN” Murray.
“Equivalent” in Lisa’s mind isn’t the same in reality.
And it’s only been a practice since gregoire and Brown took over on behalf of the unions. The state is broke. It’s nice to deflect as to why. One thing’s clear though, it’s Brown and Gregoire’s spending on their version of earmarks ( ie bribes to voters) that generates much of the debt continuing to plague the State. They did it. Rossi didn’t. Period.
Vote Rossi. Vote Baumgartner.
MrDavis on September 10 at 5:58 a.m.
The entire Murray campaign is based on her skill in procuring earmarks, but don’t expect the media to comment or notice. At least Rossi hasn’t resorted to a barrage of non-stop personal attacks in his ads.
misjustice on September 10 at 9:19 a.m.
“If he has a principled disagreement with this process it would have shown up when he was chairman.”
And if he had principles, those would have showed up, too!
Say NO to diNO!
joe doughtnut on September 10 at 10:27 p.m.
I’ve seen plenty of earmarks for Fairchild AFB over the years and BOTH parties have been there to turn the shovels.Just because the state has to balance the budget, doesn’t make a “state earmark” any more legitimate.John McCain is famous for not sponsoring earmarks, but he more than happy to sponsor questionable defense bills.Just another way of bringing home the BACON!
D Statler on September 11 at 10:12 p.m.
A VOTE FOR DINO IS A VOTE AGAINST THE MIDDLE CLASS ! This guy needs to lat down and let Diddier take over for the republicans. LOOOOOOOOSER !!
Dazzeetrader11 on September 12 at 11:51 p.m.
doooley…it’s over for clint and the far far right. DINO’s near center. He should be elected. Noevember he will be. Clint’s welcome but his far right ideas aren’t realisitic. We need consersvatives not right wing people who are stuck with ideas that won’t work and seem to be unappealing. Sorry . Vote DINO! Sitting it out is a vote for Murray.