Democratic win would boost state’s Congressional clout

WASHINGTON – The dean of the state’s congressional delegation, Rep. Norm Dicks has been in Congress since Jimmy Carter was president.

Throughout his 30 years in the House, one thing has remained constant: Dicks has served on a subcommittee that oversees funding for the Interior Department and other environmental agencies.

If Democrats win control of the House on Tuesday, Dicks could finally become the panel’s chair.

“I would very much like to be chairman. I joke that I’ve had a long enough apprenticeship – 30 years,” Dicks said. “I think I’m ready to serve.”

Dicks would not be the only Washington state congressman to move up in stature if Democrats retake control of the House, as many analysts expect.

Rep. Jim McDermott would likely get a subcommittee chairmanship on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, while Rep. Adam Smith would move to a senior position on the House Armed Services Committee.

In general, the state’s congressional clout would increase under Democratic rule, because of the number and seniority of Democrats from Washington. Democrats now outnumber Republicans in the House delegation, 6-3, and hold both Senate seats.

Those numbers could increase if Democrat Darcy Burner ousts freshman Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash., in a hotly contested race in Seattle’s Eastside suburbs. Most analysts consider the 8th District race a tossup, while giving longer odds to Democrat Peter Goldmark, who is challenging freshman GOP Rep. Cathy McMorris in the 5th District in Eastern Washington.

No Democratic incumbents are considered at risk, nor is Rep. Doc Hastings, the state’s senior Republican and chairman of the House ethics committee.

Dicks, with 30 years in the House, and McDermott, with 18 years, would be the delegation’s biggest winners under a Democratic takeover.

Dicks, 65, of Belfair would become the third highest-ranking Democrat on the powerful Appropriations committee, which plays a key role in writing the federal budget. As a subcommittee chair – often referred to as a cardinal – he would be in position to steer money to the state for national parks and forests, track abuse of environmental laws and, most importantly, increase federal spending on Puget Sound.

“We are on the verge of crisis in Puget Sound and the coast of Washington with emerging dead zones” due to pollution, Dicks said.

As chairman of the Interior and Environment subcommittee, Dicks would seek to place Puget Sound on par with the Great Lakes, Everglades and Chesapeake Bay as a priority for federal funding.

While Dicks, a former University of Washington football player, stressed he is not “dancing in the end zone” before Election Day – as President Bush has accused some Democrats of doing – he clearly relishes the chance to take the gavel after a dozen years in the minority.

He may have his choice of assignments, if his friend, Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha, succeeds in an expected bid for House majority leader. In that case, Dicks said he is likely to forego Interior to become head of the Defense subcommittee, where he has served for 28 years, becoming one of the House’s leading authorities on military matters.

The defense post would give Dicks a prime spot to steer federal contracts to Boeing – including a long-delayed Air Force plan to buy a fleet of refueling tankers.

Dicks, who is known as one of Boeing’s biggest supporters in Congress, insists he will show no favoritism toward the company, the state’s largest employer and one of the nation’s top military contractors.

“Everybody says that” he will steer money to Boeing, Dicks said in response to a question. “That’s not necessarily true. I’m going to call them on the merits and be fair to everybody.”

Dicks acknowledges a long relationship with Boeing, but said his support is not guaranteed. For instance, he opposes the military’s missile defense system, even though Boeing is the project’s prime contractor.

McDermott, 69, of Seattle is in line for a subcommittee chairmanship on Ways and Means, a platform he says he’d use to push for universal health care coverage and alternative energy.

While he now is ranking Democrat on the Human Resources subcommittee, McDermott said he was not sure what post he would take if Democrats win.

“My first call will be to (Democratic Rep.) Charlie Rangel (of New York) and say, ‘How can I play the best role on the team? What do you want?’” said McDermott, who sees the chance to set the House’s agenda as the real opportunity.

“We have not been able to get amendments considered on alternative energy or health care or cutting down subsidies to oil companies. The chairman would not even hear it. So things are going to change, and I’m looking forward to it,” McDermott said.

He and other Democrats stressed that after 12 years in the minority, they are sensitive to being trampled by the majority, and they vow not to repeat what they call the mistakes of their Republican counterparts.

“All of us understand you have to listen to the other side – even if you think they are wrong,” McDermott said. “They may tell you something you can steal and … make your legislation better.”

Smith also said Democrats would be wise to avoid a “payback” strategy, which is likely to be unpopular with voters.

“If they voted us in, they can vote us out again, and we need to be mindful of that,” he said.

Smith, 41, of Tacoma is seeking his sixth term in the House. He could be in line for an Armed Services subcommittee chairmanship. Smith, whose district includes Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base, is close to the panel’s ranking Democrat, Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri, and says his influence will increase no matter what his formal role.

Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., would not gain a leadership post, but says that in the majority he, too, could do more for the state on his two committee assignments: Energy and Commerce, and Resources. The two panels touch major sectors of the national economy, from energy to telecommunications, forestry and biotechnology.

Democratic Reps. Rick Larsen and Brian Baird are both on the Transportation Committee, and they could help secure more federal money for projects in the Puget Sound and Vancouver regions. Larsen also serves on Armed Services and Agriculture.