Author Archives: Calley Hair
Rep. Kraft: ‘Reject the results and the electoral votes’
State Rep. Vicki Kraft, R-Vancouver, said she would have joined the group of Republican lawmakers who did not accept the results of the presidential election on Wednesday. In an email — “to be sure I am on record as a Legislator and lawmaker on this critical issue” — she wrote that she believes there are […]
McEnerny-Ogle to launch reelection campaign
Anne McEnerny-Ogle is wasting no time in 2021. The Vancouver mayor will formally announce her reelection campaign at noon on New Year’s Day, in an online event that will also feature former City Councilor Larry Smith. McEnerny-Ogle will use the forum to “share some of the challenges ahead” and “present her approach and priorities for […]
Herrera Beutler is on board with bigger relief checks
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler is on board with increasing direct payments to individuals as part of the COVID-19 stimulus package, joining the unlikely alliance of House Democrats and President Donald Trump calling for $2,000 relief checks. The Republican congresswoman from Battle Ground was among the bipartisan group of lawmakers who negotiated the $900 billion package […]
Congresswoman calls for more car commuters in I-5 bridge planning
Won’t somebody think of the automobiles? According to Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, we ought to be. The congresswoman penned a letter this week calling for more car commuter representation on the Interstate 5 Bridge Replacement Committee, lest we repeat the disasters of the past. In the letter — addressed to Washington State Department […]
Herrera Beutler expects a Biden inauguration, but won’t call him president-elect
Asked if she acknowledges Joe Biden’s presidential win, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, responded through a spokesman that she expects Biden to be inaugurated. But she stopped short of affirming that she personally accepts Biden as the president-elect. “‘President Elect’” isn’t a term that means anything in law, and it’s never been widely applied […]
Sen. Rivers elected Republican caucus chair
Sen. Ann Rivers was unanimously elected as the new caucus chair of the Washington Senate Republicans Wednesday. Rivers, serving a third 4-year term as senator of the state’s 18th Legislative District, will hold the caucus chair position through the 2021-22 legislative term. She’ll guide the caucus alongside fellow southwest Washington Republican Sen. John Braun, from […]
State senator drafts legislation for in-person schooling
Sen. John Braun, a Republican from Centralia, is drafting legislation that would require Washington’s counties to offer full-time, in-person schooling if their COVID-19 positivity rate is below 5 percent. In a media release, Braun said it was “time for us to provide a thoughtful path that returns our schools to in-person instruction.” “As a matter […]
Rep. Harris reelected as minority caucus chair
Rep. Paul Harris will continue in his role as Washington State House Republican Caucus Chair. Harris, the six-term Republican representative from the 17th Legislative District, was re-elected by his colleagues on Monday. He’ll serve as minority caucus chair during the 2021 session, presiding over daily caucus meetings discussing bills, amendments and votes. He’ll also help […]
Herrera Beutler: Trump ‘has the right to press his claims’
President Donald Trump is declining to concede the election, though Democrat Joseph Biden has earned enough votes in the Electoral College to cement his victory as the president-elect. Today I asked Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler’s communications director, Craig Wheeler, what the Republican congresswoman thought of Trump’s refusal to concede. He responded with a written statement […]
Polling déjà vu: What can we learn from 2018?
It’s the final stretch before Election Day, and pundits are looking at three polls to cast predictions on Washington’s Third Congressional District race between Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, and Democrat Carolyn Long. The first, conducted from July 29 to August 4th by RMG Research, found Herrera Beutler leading Long, 44 percent to 40 […]