WASHINGTON – When Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona introduced a bill last week to cut congressional pay by 5 percent, Democratic Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state quickly signed on to the effort.

Smith has had a particularly close relationship with Giffords: They’re both members of the fiscally conservative Blue Dogs Democrats, and they both have seats on the House Armed Services Committee.

“She is a dear personal friend,” said Smith, the top-ranked Democrat on the Armed Services Committee.

Smith is not the only Washingtonian with ties to Giffords, who was shot Saturday just outside of Tucson.

“I grew …

Read more »

President Barack Obama was expected to sign an $858 billion tax bill this afternoon that will allow Washington state residents to deduct the state sales tax they paid on their 2010 and 2011 returns.

The House gave final approval to the compromise bill in the wee overnight hours Thursday after the Senate had approved it earlier in the week.

Even though the measure included the sales tax deduction, four Washington state representatives, Adam Smith, Brian Baird, Jay Inslee and Jim McDermott voted against it.

The rest of the state’s congressional delegation supported the measure.

“This compromise package isn’t perfect; …

Read more »

Voters in Thurston, Pierce and King counties apparently elected U.S. Rep. Adam Smith to an eighth term in Congress today.

On a night when much was made of the Republican takeover of the House, Smith said he’s looking forward to getting down to the business of  “dealing with Afghanistan and Iraq and national security issues in a responsible bipartisan way.”

Smith led challenger Dick Muri, a Republican member of the Pierce County Council, in overall voting in the 9th Congressional District.

But Muri, a Steilacoom resident, held a slim lead in Pierce County-only votes, according to early returns.

During the …

Read more »

U.S. Rep Adam Smith leads Pierce County Councilman Dick Muri in the 9th Congressional District, which cuts a swath from Thurston County through major portions of Pierce County and into King County.

Smith, a Democrat, is seeking his seventh term in Congress. He leads in early returns from across the 9th District, though Muri, a Republican, holds the edge in the early tallies from Pierce County.

Pierce County  Councilman Dick Muri, R-Steilacoom, remains locked in a competitive race in his bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, according to a new KING 5 poll.

The poll, released by the Seattle television station Tuesday evening, shows Smith leading Muri by just three percentage points, a figure within the poll’s four percent margin of error, KING 5 said.

KING 5 reported the race in the 9th Congressional District “is too close to call.” The district covers a swath from Thurston County through Steilacoom, Lakewood, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, parts of Tacoma and East Pierce County

…

Read more »

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, and Pierce County Councilman Dick Muri, R-Steilacoom, are trading barbs over pay in their race for Congress. Here’s a look at them.

The Claims:

Adam Smith criticizes Pierce County Councilman Dick Muri for voting to raise his own pay. “Dick Muri is a politician who wants a promotion,” a Smith ad says. “But his record on the Pierce County Council shows he doesn’t deserve one. In fact, about the only thing Muri has accomplished on the council is to dramatically increase the pay for himself and other county politicians…” The Smith ad says Muri’s pay has gone up to $110,000.

Dick Muri’s campaign responded, that Smith’s salary – thanks to automatic pay raises – has gone up from 34 percent since he was elected “and now tops $176,000.”

Read more »

Smith-Muri: head to head

As a debate between 9th Congressional District candidates Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, and Dick Muri, R-Steilacoom, nears at 7 p.m. tonight in the Little Theater at Federal Way High School, the airwave and internet battle between the two has been heating up.

Smith is a seven-term incumbent who says he practices fiscal responsibility and restraint; Muri is a Pierce County Councilman who charges Smith is too liberal and should leave Congress after 14 years.

Here’s a copy of a Smith ad about Muri:

…

Read more »

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith and Pierce County Councilman Dick Muri are set for a debate in Federal Waytonight.

Smith. a Democrat, and Muri, a Republican, are running to represent the 9th Congressional District, which stretches from parts of Thurston County through much of Pierce County and into a swath of King County.

Smith has held the seat for 14 years.

The debate is set for 7 p.m.  in the Little Theater at Federal Way High School, 30611 16th Ave. S.

Members of the audience will be able to pose questions to the candidates.

The debate is hosted by the Federal …

Read more »