By Rachel La Corte
The Associated Press
OLYMPIA — Sen. Doug Ericksen said Thursday the Republican majority in the state Senate can rely on him as he juggles dual roles as state senator and a member of President Donald Trump’s transition team.
Ericksen noted his presence on the Senate floor the previous evening for a key vote on an education bill, and votes that same night on several bills in a committee he chairs, as an example that he’s able to do both jobs.
The Republican from Ferndale’s meeting with reporters to discuss his temporary posting was a day later than originally planned because of a canceled flight out of Washington, D.C., but Ericksen disputed that commuting from the East Coast was any more difficult than it is for lawmakers who have to travel from the far reaches of the state and who have to deal with snow and mountain passes.
“There are many things that influence a member’s ability to get here,” he said.
Republicans hold a Senate majority by just one vote, which means Ericksen’s schedule can complicate their ability to schedule controversial floor votes.
Democratic Party Chairwoman Tina Podlodowski issued a statement threatening to “use every legal and political avenue we have” if Ericksen doesn’t resign, citing previous canceled hearings and missed votes in the committee that Ericksen chairs.
“It’s outrageous for Senator Doug Ericksen to claim that he can responsibly serve the people of Washington state and the people of the 42nd legislative district while also working in Washington, D.C., for Donald Trump,” she wrote.
Ericksen said he has received overwhelming support from his constituents, and called the job with the Trump administration a “unique opportunity.”
Role deemed legal
He says that both state and federal lawyers have told him his temporary dual role as communications director for the Environmental Protection Agency’s transition team is legal.
He also noted the temporary nature of his position, saying that the contract he signed was up to 120 days but “could be much less.”
“I could be done tomorrow, I could be done with this job in 10 days,” he said.
He skirted the issue of how much he’s being paid for his transition work, saying that the salary hasn’t been determined yet, other than he’s “losing money on the deal.”
He said he is still collecting his annual state salary of $46,839 but has stopped collecting the daily lawmaker stipend of $120 a day. Senate administrators said he hasn’t collected the stipend since Jan. 15.
Doesn’t want to move
Ericksen said he hasn’t been offered, and currently isn’t seeking, a permanent position in Washington, D.C., and said he doesn’t want to move his family.
But he said if a regional position opened at the EPA, or other agencies like Interior or Agriculture, “all of those would be things that I would consider.”
Ericksen said he currently has plans to be back in D.C. on Sunday and then will be “back and forth” during the current 105-day legislative session.
Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, talks to reporters Thursday at the Capitol in Olympia. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)
Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, is shown in a television camera viewfinder as he talks to reporters Thursday at the Capitol in Olympia. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)