Republican opponents of U.S. Rep. Brian Baird are criticizing the congressman over his recent vote against a spending bill that included $1.3 million for flood control projects in the Chehalis River Basin.
Baird, a Vancouver Democrat, said Thursday that he voted against the bill on principle, after lawmakers were given only 19 hours to read the 400-page document. The measure passed by a large margin.
Baird has sponsored a petition with U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., that would force Congress to consider a bill proposing 72-hour waiting period before voting on legislation.
This week, two Republican challengers to Baird’s 2010 congressional bid called the move a “cynical, political ploy,” a gimmick aimed at creating the image of bipartisanship. David Castillo, the former Centralia resident running against Baird, called the effort “laughable on its face.”
Castillo said the issue is an opportunity to grandstand and distance himself from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He said if Baird were genuine, he would have voted against industry bailouts, and a sweeping climate change bill passed earlier this year.
“His hypocrisy is amazing. … The bill that is of critical importance is used in what amounts to a cynical political ploy,” Castillo said.
Washougal City Councilman Jon Russell, the only other candidate registered in the race thus far, also was critical of Baird.
“Brian Baird did not hesitate to vote for the Cap and Trade Bill without a 72-hour waiting period,” Russell said. “All of a sudden he has found religion on a 72-hour wait rule and he used his newfound faith to work against his own constituents in Lewis County.”
In an e-mailed statement, Russell called the move a political stunt.
Baird’s ‘no’ vote came on House Resolution 3183, which included $34 billion in spending. It cleared the House by a large margin and awaits Senate approval. The bill includes federal allocations for two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects in the Chehalis River Basin. The money in the bill is split between the Twin Cities Project, which calls for 11 miles of levees in and around Centralia and Chehalis, and the general investigation into basinwide flood control and ecosystem restoration.
The money was originally requested by Baird and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray.
Eric Schwartz: (360) 807-8245
rainsoaked
72 hours is a joke...one week minimum with time for discussion. whats the hurry??
Sam Spade PI
The tone of this news article suggests that Congress will be funding the dams that are needed from Adna to Aberdeen (water retention features for the entire basin). The reality is that no dams can be built without significant local funding which means raising taxes.Nobody seems to have the guts to admit that the only way to provide flood relief for those residents in the flood plain is to raise taxes on everybody living in the basin....even those people smart enough to live on hills instead of in the flood plain.The Chronicle has not made it clear that the ultimate result of new levees or new dams is increased taxes. Somebody has to pay to build the dams and somebody has to pay to operate the dams. The Feds will pay part of construction costs, but we will pay the other part PLUS annual operation costs of the dams.The County Commissioners need to level with citizens that taxes will have to be raised to pay for flood control, and operation of flood control facilities whether they are levees or dams.No political figure or the Chronicle appear willing to discuss raising taxes.Instead, they talk of forming a flood control district which is a new taxing district. Nobody is willing to admit that such a district has the primary mission of assessing new taxes on you to pay for keeping people in the flood plain dry.There is this huge gap between the dam builders (go dams go!!!) and the residents of the Chehalis river basin who do not want their taxes raised.Why should all the residents in Napavine (no flooding) pay for dams to protect residents in the flood plain in Chehalis?It is my observation that most people do not recognize the end result of any of this flood control effort is paying more taxes. It is my belief that the County Commissioners are actually trying to hide that fact. And it seems that the Chronicle is going along with the obfuscation.
shadetree
When will the people of Lewis County finally have enough of this moron and vote ANYBODY else in?