For the record: Haugen still opposes the CRC

Democratic congressional candidate Jon Haugen has received some emails lately asking if he has changes his stance on the Columbia River Crossing — from opposing the project, to supporting the project.

I’m not sure how this rumor got started. Hopefully, it wasn’t because of The Columbian’s story on Haugen recently being nominated by Washington State Democrats. In it, we reported that Haugen still opposes the CRC.

Apparently, some are speculating that because Haugen is now endorsed by state Democrats, then it must mean he changed his position on the CRC and now supports the $3.5 billion megaproject. His opposition to the plan to replace the Interstate 5 Bridge was one reason democrats previously voted down his nomination.

Since Democrats changed their minds about Haugen, Haugen must have changed his stance on the CRC, so the rumor goes.

Haugen emailed me today to clear things up:

“I did not change my position on the Columbia River Crossing for any endorsement,” he wrote. “I have, do and will continue to oppose the Columbia River Crossing plan as a colossal waste of money.”

Haugen is challenging U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, this fall.

Despite receiving the official nomination from state Democrats, he’s still not seeing much love from the party.

“I contacted the Washington State Democratic Party about funding a mailer to the (3rd) Congressional District but was told there are no funds available,” he wrote.