Jay Inslee’s critics try to cast him as a follower, as just another vote for Democrats’ big-government agenda.
They have it half right. Inslee is an unabashed Democrat, and he does vote with his party almost all the time. But to his credit, he has parted with it on some high-profile votes, taking principled stands that required political courage.
He has also authored some key portions of important legislation on Northwest priorities like clean energy and Boeing — acts of a leader, not a follower.
That’s why we endorse Inslee’s candidacy for a seventh term representing the 1st Congressional District, which includes most of Snohomish County south of Everett. It’s a much closer call than in recent years, though, thanks to a challenge from Republican James Watkins, a highly impressive political newcomer whom we believe could also serve the district well.
Inslee’s has long been a leading voice for the development of a clean-energy economy, one with the innovative capacity to make a meaningful dent in the United States’ dependence on fossil fuels — and the environmental and national-security toll it represents.
He authored several key provisions of the American Clean Energy and Security Act that was approved by the House. One would create a “clean energy bank” to get breakthrough technologies the financing required to compete commercially. Another would provide rebates to help protect key, energy-intensive industries in the Northwest, such as producers of aluminum, pulp and paper.
His amendment dealing with the Air Force refueling tanker bidding that’s so important to Boeing — requiring the Pentagon to consider illegal government subsidies to Airbus — won overwhelming, bipartisan approval in the House.
Inslee also has taken a compelling stand against President Obama’s strategy in Afghanistan, saying the mission should be focused on ensuring that terrorists can’t establish a launching pad for attacks, not on a nation-building process he believes can’t succeed.
Watkins, currently a business development consultant, has a background in the technology industry, and managed a small-business product at Microsoft. In the early ’90s, he worked with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, helping reduce its size after the savings and loan crisis had abated.
He’s a firm believer in small-government, free-market principles. He advocates eloquently for boosting the economy by making it easier to open a business and simplifying the tax code. He says businesses are sitting on capital as they await clarity from the government about taxes and regulation, and that Republicans can deliver what they need to begin investing.
Watkins appears to have the intelligence and gumption to work his way up the congressional leadership ladder. For now, we believe the district is best served by the leader it already has.
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