Reading the Oct. 2 “Local Angle: Federal workers in region assess effects of shutdown,” it’s no surprise that Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, “isn’t second-guessing her party’s leaders” in their quest to shut down the government. She betrayed herself as the worst kind of party hack when she signed unelected lobbyist and crook Grover Norquist’s anti-tax pledge.
She’s not attending congressional sessions because she’s with her sick daughter. I guarantee she’d be first in line to squelch any bill Democrats might raise to prevent employers from firing workers who are absent for prolonged periods due to family illness. She made her personal choice. She should give up her seat. Just phoning in a party-line vote is something I could train a parrot to do. Literally.
This government shutdown isn’t about Obamacare. It’s about setting a precedent for minority veto of a law that’s already been passed. After five straight years of Republicans carping that Obama is shredding the Constitution, they should take a good hard look in the mirror.
Ellen Putman
Vancouver