Friday briefing: McMorris Rodgers rising, Seattle budget tiff royale, candidate trackers

Posted by Joni Balter

Good morning, and happy Friday:

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgres

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Spokane is a rising star. You probably knew that. What you perhaps did not know is that she may land a premium job in the U.S. House — House Republican Conference chair, a.k.a., the most visible woman in the GOP. Politico has the details.

Seattle budget director uninvited from budget committee table. Can you say 2013 Seattle mayor’s race? Publicola takes you there. There is an odd dust-up between budget director Beth Goldberg and some members of the City Council, including budget chair Tim Burgess. Burgess is considering a run for mayor against Goldberg’s boss, Mayor Mike McGinn.

I like FEMA, I don’t like FEMA, is Sandy a Democratic storm? Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is having a hard time describing exactly how he feels about the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It is not an exaggeration to say he once wasn’t so hot about FEMA, suggesting possible cuts to the agency that helps victims of natural disasters. But on second thought, this week, Romney said he likes FEMA, sees its role. Do not feel badly if you are confused.

Politics job from hell: So you think you are sick and tired of the election? Imagine how these fellows feel. Eli Sanders at The Stranger has a fun feature on trackers, the people who follow the candidate they oppose around in the governor’s race. “Tracking the trackers.” Take a look.

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Comments | More in Governor, homepage, Politics Northwest, U.S. House of Representatives | Topics: candidate trackers, congresswoman cathy mcmorris rodgers, house republican conference chair

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Politics Northwest is the go-to blog for politics in our region. The blog explores national, state and local political news and issues. Reporters from Washington, D.C., to Seattle City Hall to the state capital in Olympia contribute. Editors are Richard Wagoner and Beth Kaiman.

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