Senator Patty Murray could not have tossed Republican Dino Rossi onto the political trash heap, and would not be heading happily into her fourth term, were it not for the record-setting 72 percent turnout in liberal King County, which kept Murray from slipping behind in a super-tight race and helped keep the U.S. Senate in Democratic hands.
Now: What does Patty Murray owe King County in return?
Here follows a comprehensive list of demands from local activists who helped get out the vote for Murray, Slog (The Stranger‘s blog) commenters who broke their wrists online chitter-chattering about her chances and the need to mail in ballots now, and other politicos who want to see her come through, once she’s back in D.C., on everything from Social Security to immigration and gay rights.
Hear ye, hear ye!
Will Pittz, executive director of the Washington Community Action Network: “We need her to hold the line on Social Security by first and foremost making sure that it’s not privatized, maintaining or improving the benefits, and not raising the retirement age. And we need her to fulfill the promise of health-care reform and defend it against any attacks from the opposition. We know that’s going to be coming.”
Slog commenter McGee: “Booze in the titty bars!”
Jody Hall, owner of Cupcake Royale: “Keep health-care reform on track and don’t cave. On the Bush tax cuts: Extend them for the middle class, but not for the wealthiest 2 percent. Doing that would add $700 billion to the deficit. If the Republicans want to give tax breaks to billionaires, let’s have that fight!”
Slog commenter stinkbug: “A free pizza for every resident of King County.”
Josh Friedes, executive director of Equal Rights Washington: “In recent years Patty Murray has been a consistent vote for LGBT civil rights. Now what we want to see from her is strong leadership… We want her to raise the profile of LGBT service-members because she’s so well respected for her work on veterans. We want to see her push for the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which must be inclusive of gender identity and expression. And, as we do economic reform, make sure that tax law treats gay and lesbian families equitably. Also, we want to see leadership on comprehensive, humane immigration reform, which must include recognition of gay and lesbian families in creating a pathway to citizenship for foreign national partners. Finally, we want her to be a strong voice for repeal of DOMA, and we are looking forward to continuing the conversation with Patty on the need for marriage equality.”
Slog commenter COMTE: “I want a pony. Or a jetcar. Or a jetcar-powered pony.”
Dana Laurent, political director for Planned Parenthood Votes Washington:
“We definitely expect that Senator Murray will continue to stand up for women and families in Washington State… Right now, one of the things that we are working on is trying to get birth control covered under preventive care as a part of the new health-care reform act—that would essentially make it so birth control has no co-pay and would be essentially available at no cost. That is something that we will definitely look to Senator Murray to be a leader on.”
Slog commenter Citizen R: “Rather than just letting them vote to not cut off debate (filibuster), make the Republicans actually, well, filibuster—talk until they can’t talk anymore, like they used to do in the old days.”
Aaron Ostrom, executive director of FUSE Washington: “We want her to lead the fight against the flood of secret money from special interests that nearly derailed her reelection, and to strongly oppose the extreme right-wing agenda that will come over from the house.”
Slog commenter Rotten666: “Real infrastructure projects that actually create real jobs and do not leave certain municipalities on the hook for cost overruns.”
King County executive Dow Constantine: “It’s more a question of: What does King County owe Patty Murray? Well, I’ll tell you: We owe her our deepest thanks and appreciation for securing $44 million to repair the Howard Hanson Dam, $34 million to help replace the South Park Bridge, and funding for light rail, bus RapidRide, the Boeing tanker contract, and so much more. And that’s just within the past six months. But, in particular, we owe her our thanks for consistently giving voice in the U.S. Senate to the values of the vast majority of us.” 
Dow (and the rest of us) should have been saying exactly that about one month ago. Thankfully we didn’t need it. But it would have been nice just in case we did. “THANK YOU PATTY” banners on bridges above I-5 and 405, now that would eat away at an enthusiasm gap for sure.
Dear Senator Murray,
Use your best judgment and keep up the good work! Rarely can I say to a politician, “I trust you to make the best decision,” but these words are completely apropos for you.
Cordially,
Charles Y. Farley
What does Patty Murray owe King County?
Gee. I thought she was one of the 2 Senators for Washington State, not King County.
My mistake. I forgot, the only voters who get to determine policy for Washington are the voters in King, southern Snohomish and northern Pierce counties.
Here’s an idea. King County can form its own state. Then the rest of the state can get electoral representation for the first time in 40 years. And Seattle can officially become the communist cell it has been dying to be for so long.
But there is a price. You folks have to keep Baghdad Jim and the ‘Mom in Tennis shoes.’ Sane people want nothing to do with either of them.
Seattleblues is singing the blues.
Had you voted for write-in candidate John Naubert,then you would get everything you wanted without asking–and then some (more goodies).
to number 5, go to the washington secretary of state website and look at how each county voted, with the exception of a few low population counties on the east side, all the counties were really close races so even a large number of people outside seattle voted to keep her. king county was the one that put her over the top so your argument doesn’t hold up, it is still a majority vote.
#5, I think a lot of other people *ahem, Eastern Washington AKA Cascadia* have tried to do that in the past. Unfortunately, they soon realized that they had no tax base, and the people and corporate entities that did exist there had no interest in paying taxes at all. Hence, we are all still one big happy family, and there are still billboards complaining about “letting King County determine your election” on the yonder side of the pass.
Senator Patty Murray, GOD BLESS YOU!!!
Although you’ve got a lot of tough workk ahead,congrats on your 4th term!!
Washington State needs you and Rick Larsen now more than ever!
Sorry about the typo. I meant “work”.
Thank GOD you won your 4th term!!!
Now if we could just get rid of Dino Rossi and Tim Eyman altogether…..
Gotta love the hypocritical comment from Ostrom at reFUSE to grow up “lead the fight against the flood of secret money…” BS. The Dems just got their butts handed to them–I am sure they will figure out how to use the rules the R’s just used against them. And, coming from a shill for every public employee tax sucking union that’s kind of a laugh.
And why is Judy Hall some of Katherine Boyle-like celebrity? I am sure her cupcake business will fold for other reasons than health care costs. Can’t wait to hear the whining about that–I am sure she will blame the tea party for that somehow…
@5: Sane?!? You certainly can’t mean yourself if you voted for for 3-time loser, Dino Rossi! You must not be a veteran, a voter, a student, a taxpayer, nor a Washington State citizen who actually gives a crap about what’s going on.
Why isn’t anyone telling Murray to stop supporting the big banks? Hello people, she did not want to find the money hiding with the Federal Reserve and the charter for that org is up in 2013! People, these politicians are not listening with the run away banksters-she has been there too long but I know we really didn’t have any good candidate choice.