By LES BLUMENTHAL
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Washington Sen. Patty Murray was elected to the No. 4 slot in the Senate's Democratic leadership Tuesday as yet another sign of the growing influence of the state's congressional delegation following last week's election.
As conference secretary, Murray will play an insider's role in developing the Democratic agenda for the next Congress, determining legislative priorities and implementing the party's strategy and message.
"It's a tremendous opportunity for our state to be at the table and to have the issues we care about on the agenda," Murray said in an interview. "I'm very excited and gratified."
Murray was beaming as new Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada introduced her and the other members of the Democratic leadership before dozens of reporters, television cameras and still photographers with strobes flashing and motor-drives whirring. Murray said later she had never faced more media at one time.
"I hope to bring to this leadership team a reminder of who we are," Murray said, singling out students with college loans, seniors trying to figure out Medicare prescription drug benefits, middle-class families without health insurance, and veterans _ particularly those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Murray, who is in her third term, will also be chairman of the Senate Appropriations' Transportation, Treasury, Judiciary, and Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee. She will not become chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, where she has been the No. 2 Democrat. The top Democrat on that committee, Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka , decided he wanted that chairmanship.
"Sen. Akaka will be the chair and I will be right there beside him," Murray said.
Murray has held Democratic leadership positions previously, including a two-year stint as chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. But conference secretary is one for four elected posts. Reid will be majority leader, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin will be majority whip and New York Sen. Charles Schumer will be vice chair of the Democratic caucus.
The conference secretary had been the No. 3 leadership job. But the caucus created a new position for Schumer, who engineered the Democratic takeover of the Senate. Murray replaces Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who will become chairman of the Democratic Steering Committee.
Murray said she and Reid had been talking about the conference secretary post off and on for weeks.
"For years, Sen. Murray has been a tireless advocate for the people of Washington state and America," Reid said a statement. "Now, her voice will be critical in helping to shape and set the Democratic agenda."
In a brief interview, Schumer said Murray brings an important voice to the top ranks of leadership.
"She has a practical smartness we rely on," he said.
Murray said a number of influential senators have held the conference secretary post previously, including West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd, the oldest member of the Senate.
"I am the only one who was actually a secretary and I can still take shorthand, but this job has nothing to do with taking notes," Murray told reporters during a conference call.
Washington's other senator, Democrat Maria Cantwell, who was just re-elected, was named Tuesday to the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees taxes, trade and Social Security. Cantwell also serves on the Senate Commerce Committee, where she will chair the fisheries and Coast Guard subcommittee, and on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
On the House side, Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., will become chairman of one of 13 appropriations subcommittees, most likely the interior appropriations subcommittee. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., could become the chairman of an Armed Services subcommittee.
"With this election all of us are in a position to ensure the state's needs and priorities are understood 2,500 miles away," Murray said of the delegation's new clout.
Post new comment