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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Neeka who wrote (94743)	1/11/2005 2:33:30 PM
From: KLP	Respond to of 793707

GOP fails in bid to delay declaring Gregoire governor Jan 11, 2005 seattletimes.nwsource.com By David Postman and Andrew Garber Seattle Times staff reporters OLYMPIA — The 2005 legislative session opened yesterday as the latest venue in the fight over the governor's election, with Republicans failing in their attempt to postpone declaring Democrat Christine Gregoire governor today. Both sides said it shouldn't be a partisan fight. But it was, with Democrats in the Senate voting against the move, except for the one self-proclaimed "Dinocrat," who joined Republicans in calling for a two-week postponement so Republican candidate Dino Rossi could make his case in the courts. "The party pressures are obviously enormous," said Senate Minority Leader Bill Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland, as his move to delay failed. Republicans will try a different tack today when the election results are officially delivered to the Legislature in joint session by the speaker of the House. That's usually little more than a ceremonial flourish, clearing the way for the inauguration. But it has taken on larger meaning as Republicans try to get the election thrown out and have a new vote between Gregoire and Rossi. Rossi has gone to court to challenge the election. His suit filed last week in Chelan County Superior County does not ask that Gregoire's inaugural tomorrow be delayed or halted. Three voters also have filed court papers asking that the election be thrown out. People in the Rossi camp say they didn't ask for Republican help. And they aren't optimistic about prospects in a Legislature controlled by Democrats. "We've assumed all along that she's going to be certified and she's going to be inaugurated," said J. Vander Stoep, Rossi's transition chief of staff. Today's round will come amid much cheering and jeering as both sides hold rallies on the Capitol grounds. The Republican Party's "Rally for a Re-Vote!" and the Democratic Party's rally in support of Gregoire will be one well-manicured lawn apart when they begin at 10:30 a.m. Republicans have been working hard to build turnout for their rally. Chairman Chris Vance predicted a big crowd of "average angry citizens who think Dino Rossi is the rightful governor." Democrats bill theirs as a counter-rally. "The election is over, and it's time to move on," said Tim Welch, a spokesman for the Washington Federation of State Employees union, which has been recruiting participants. "[Democratic presidential candidate] Al Gore realized it in 2000, and Dino Rossi needs to realize it now." Both sides are also running radio commercials to sway public sentiment. The Building Industry Association of Washington, strong backers of Rossi, has run full-page newspaper ads declaring: "ILLEGAL VOTES = ILLEGITIMATE RESULTS" and "This isn't Ukraine, it's Washington." The lobbying group for the home builders also is airing a radio spot backing the effort. The Democratic Party ad features outgoing Gov. Gary Locke who says, "We've had a close, but a fair election. It's now time to move on." Yesterday's Senate vote followed strict party lines except for that of Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, a Rossi supporter who voted with the Republicans. Finkbeiner and other Republicans said they think a majority of voters want a new election. "Right now, I don't believe there is anything more important than this issue today," he said. Reports of errors in the vote count need to be resolved, he said, before the Legislature takes any move to certify Gregoire as governor. Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, said that through the weekend he wasn't sure how he would vote.