In Our View: Third Term for Jaime

Through two terms in Congress, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, has attempted to walk a precarious tightrope. In a Republican Party divided along philosophical lines, she has invited criticism from the left that she is too conservative and from the right that she is not conservative enough. She has broken ranks on occasion — most notably in criticizing members of her party who forced a shutdown of the federal government — while at the same time remaining unmistakably Republican.

In so doing, Herrera Beutler has earned another trip to Washington, D.C. The Columbian recommends a vote for Herrera Beutler in her race against Bob Dingethal, D-Ridgefield, to represent Washington’s 3rd Congressional District. As always, this is merely a recommendation, designed to foster discussion and present a well-informed opinion. We trust the voters of the 3rd District to become knowledgeable of the issues and to make up their own minds.

And while we recommend Herrera Beutler for re-election, we also suggest that it is time for her to make a mark in Congress and a lasting impression on Southwest Washington. According to GovTrack.us, she has ranked among the least productive sophomore members of the House during the 113th Congress in terms of sponsoring or co-sponsoring bills. Of course, many would argue that Congress should pass fewer laws, not more, but we think Herrera Beutler should be more active in representing the interests of her district. That can be difficult in a divided House, where she often is caught in the middle. According to OpenCongress.org, she has voted with her party 90 percent of the time, which ranks among the lowest percentages among Republicans.

Herrera Beutler believes the Affordable Care Act should be repealed, but criticizes Republicans for failing to offer a viable alternative. She has been active in developing support for ports along the Columbia River and promoting the economic boost they provide to the region. And she has spent much time focusing on forestry issues and the impact of the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan.

Meanwhile, Dingethal, who is on leave from his position as executive director of the Gifford Pinchot Task Force, presents a worthy challenger. He is thoughtful and articulate and has well-developed opinions regarding important issues. On gun control, he said: “The amount of gun violence in this country is a national disgrace. We need to get over this and address it.” On taxes: “Every time you raise taxes, you need to sell the reason.” On troubles within Veterans Affairs: “You want to save money in the VA, stop having wars.”

While analyzing Congressional races throughout the state, Joel Connelly of the Seattle PI wrote: “Dingethal is the highest quality House challenger either party has recruited this year, with a successful business startup background and conservationist credentials.” Because we believe Dingethal is a smart guy, we also believe he knows this run against a popular incumbent is to get his name out there for a future run for office.

As for Herrera Beutler, Dingethal rightly takes her to task for a lack of town hall meetings with constituents. Herrera Beutler should become more engaged with the voters and not shy away from those who disagree with her positions.

That said, she has been an effective representative for Southwest Washington who has spent the past four years growing into her job. We expect that growth to continue, and we recommend that voters retain her as their Congresswoman.