Gregoire backs bailout package but Rossi silent; NW delegation split

• Published October 02, 2008

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Washington’s congressional delegation has split on the so-called Wall Street bailout package, but Gov. Chris Gregoire made clear in last night’s gubernatorial debate she supported the Senate’s approval of a more than $800 billion plan.

The one-term Democrat was less sure whether she could have supported the $700 billion plan that stalled Monday in the U.S. House.

Gregoire made her comments in response to a question from debate panelist Barbara Serrano of the Yakima Herald-Republican newspaper, who specifically asked Gregoire and Republican challenger Dino Rossi how each would have voted Monday on the House package, if they were members of that chamber.

Rossi flat out failed to answer the question. Instead, Rossi used his time to say the country and state face a financial crisis and that Gregoire “outspent Mike Lowry,” the former Democratic governor in 1993-97. He also said the state’s business climate needs to improve and asserted he has a plan for turning Washington into “an entrepreneurial state.’’

Meanwhile, Washington’s two Democratic U.S. senators split on the Senate’s sweetened version of the bill in a vote Wednesday night. Click here for details of what is in it.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray voted for it; U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell voted against it. Click here for McClatchy reporter Les Blumenthal’s exploration of their differences on this bill.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray voted for it; U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell voted against it. Click here for McClatchy reporter Les Blumenthal’s exploration of their differences on this bill. Here is Cantwell’s statement; here is Murray’s statement.

Washington’s nine House members split 5-4 in favor of the earlier bill on Monday. Click here to read about the split.

Voting in favor were Democratic Reps. Norm Dicks of Belfair, Adam Smith of Tacoma, Brian Baird of Vancouver, Rick Larsen of Everett and Jim McDermott of Seattle. Baird and Smith’s districts serve South Sound.

Voting against were Democrat Jay Inslee of Bainbridge Island, Dave Reichert of Bellevue, Cathy McMorris-Rodgers of Spokane and Doc Hastings of Pasco.

For details on the third of five gubernatorial debates, click here for the Associated Press story that ran today in The Olympian.

Click here for a preview of the U.S. House vote on the bailout package that now is expected on Friday.