Published: Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Rep. Dunshee seeks key House budget post
OLYMPIA -- Democratic Rep. Hans Dunshee of Snohomish could play a leading role in deciding what cuts will be made to balance the state budget.
He is vying for the powerful position of chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, the chamber's budget- writing panel.
Dunshee and Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham, are considered the leading candidates in what has become a very spirited competition.
A decision is due later this week on who will succeed longtime chairwoman Rep. Helen Sommers, D-Seattle, who retired from the Legislature this year.
Dunshee is the panel's vice-chairman and served at Sommers' side in the 2008 session.
Linville is chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Audit Review. This subcommittee reviews funding of general government programs and agencies and makes funding recommendations to the full appropriations committee.
This Wednesday, the Democratic caucus' Committee on Committees is expected to issue its recommendation and lawmakers could vote on it with results known as early as Thursday.
Dunshee appeared to be the early favorite to succeed Sommers in the job but Linville is widely known to enjoy the backing of House Speaker Frank Chopp.
"Too much is in flux" to make predictions on the outcome, Dunshee said Monday.
"If I don't get this there are other positions available," he said.
One of those is chairman of the House Capital Budget Committee he led before moving to the appropriations committee.
"That's a possibility," he said.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
He is vying for the powerful position of chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, the chamber's budget- writing panel.
Dunshee and Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham, are considered the leading candidates in what has become a very spirited competition.
A decision is due later this week on who will succeed longtime chairwoman Rep. Helen Sommers, D-Seattle, who retired from the Legislature this year.
Dunshee is the panel's vice-chairman and served at Sommers' side in the 2008 session.
Linville is chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Audit Review. This subcommittee reviews funding of general government programs and agencies and makes funding recommendations to the full appropriations committee.
This Wednesday, the Democratic caucus' Committee on Committees is expected to issue its recommendation and lawmakers could vote on it with results known as early as Thursday.
Dunshee appeared to be the early favorite to succeed Sommers in the job but Linville is widely known to enjoy the backing of House Speaker Frank Chopp.
"Too much is in flux" to make predictions on the outcome, Dunshee said Monday.
"If I don't get this there are other positions available," he said.
One of those is chairman of the House Capital Budget Committee he led before moving to the appropriations committee.
"That's a possibility," he said.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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