Difference between revisions of "Dino Rossi"

Revision as of 20:27, October 8, 2010

Template:Bio Dino Rossi (born October 15, 1959) was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, earned his Business degree from Seattle University, has made a successful career in the commercial real estate business, and formerly served as Washington state's Senator from 1997 through 2003.^[1] Dino Rossi is currently a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Washington state for the 2010 Midterm Elections, running against Senator Patty Murray.^[2][3][4] Dino Rossi is a conservative Republican, passionate about politics and believes in the United States Constitution. He currently serves as a Secretary for the Board of the Special Olympics for the State of Washington and is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the School of Business at Seattle University.

Dino Rossi is a family man with a wife and four children.^[5]

2010 Midterm Elections

Debates and Interviews

On September 10, 2010, The Seattle Times editorial board members interviewed Senator Patty Murray and challenger Dino Rossi. The interview with the senate candidates covered various topics in a webcast. Dino Rossi and Patty Murray discussed their views on a broad range of important political debates including health care, social security, net neutrality, the federal deficit, climate change, education, taxation policies and financial reform.^[6] On September 20, 2010 in Tacoma, The News Tribune editorial board interviewed Senator Patty Murray and challenger Dino Rossi.^[7]

Following the Rasmussen Reports’ most recent poll which has Murray trailing by one point, 47% to 48%, on October 6 CNBC's Larry Kudlow interviewed Republican candidate Dino Rossi to discuss the importance of the pivotal Washington Senate race. Dino Rossi and Larry Kudlow covered important topics such as the economy, Washington's unemployment rate and on job creation, taxes and government debt.^[8] Kudlow had also invited Patty Murray to join CNBC for an interview but she declined to comment or respond to the invitation.

During an interview with Fox News on October 7, Rossi spoke about the peculiarities of the state and of this election year nationally which have led some to describe the Washington race as the make-or-break contest that could determine Senate control.

Rossi told Fox News he's not letting this high-stakes scenario get to his head and expressed confidence in his chances. The businessman and former state senator continued to hammer Murray for her votes on the stimulus package and health care overhaul and said she's "desperate" to hold onto power.

Contract from America

Dino Rossi was the first Senate candidate in Washington to sign the Contract from America, a pledge to Americans which has also been signed by Tea Party favorites Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Sharron Angle, as well as being promoted by many national Tea Party groups. From the Dino Rossi campaign website:

Dino Rossi on changing Washington, DC to save America's future.

Health Care

Dino Rossi has expressed opposition to President Barack Obama's appointment of Donald Berwick as the new health care administrator. Dino Rossi is opposed to ObamaCare, including the tax hikes and health care rationing that will be a direct result of it.

Dino Rossi believes that the health care bill passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama, also known as "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," was a tax and spend bill that will cost taxpayers $1 trillion. According to Dino Rossi's campaign Web site, Rossi wants to repeal ObamaCare for the following reasons: most workers won’t be able to keep the health insurance plan they currently have, even if they like it; premiums for working families will increase taxes on middle class families by half a trillion dollars; and, seniors will see $500 billion in cuts to Medicare. Rossi wants to replace ObamaCare with "common-sense bipartisan proposals that give power to patients and doctors not government and insurance companies."^[14]

Dino Rossi's health care proposals, according to his Senate campaign website:

• Replace Pelosi-Reid healthcare bill with something that will actually lower health insurance costs, improve access to a greater variety of health insurance plans, and give people choice in picking their doctors.
• Allow citizens to buy health insurance across state lines, as they do for other types of insurance.
• Make offering insurance more affordable for small businesses by allowing them to join together and get the discounts available to big corporations.
• Give individuals the same tax deductions as corporations.

Economy

Dino Rossi has said that he wants to reform the current tax code, and he will lower taxes to promote economic growth and job creation. According to the Dino Rossi for Senate website, he said that the recently raised taxes by Congress to pay for massive increases in government spending must stop. Rossi wants to make permanent the 2001 and 2003 tax relief, repeal the death tax, and lower the tax rates for small businesses:

Dino Rossi's stance on the issues of America's current tax code and the economy:

• Extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.
• Stop new broad-based taxes like a European-style consumption tax.
• Reduce government spending.

Government Spending

With the United States national debt topped at $13 trillion for the year 2010, Dino Rossi said that if Congress continued to spend money at this unprecedented pace, America's national debt will reach $19.6 trillion by 2015. Rossi believes that both Republicans and Democrats are guilty of running up the nation’s debt without considering how it will be paid for. He said that, "Washington families have to make tough budget decisions every day to live within their means, and it’s time for Congress to do the same."^[14]

Dino Rossi's stance on government spending, according to his Senate campaign website:

• Cancel unspent bailout and stimulus funds and direct them toward deficit reduction.
• Pass a Balanced Budget Amendment with a supermajority to raise taxes.
• Cut Government Employment and reduce overly generous pay and benefits.

Energy

Dino Rossi is opposed to cap and trade. According to the Dino Rossi for Senate campaign website, he believes that Congress needs to lessen America's energy dependence and allow the country to develop more of its own resources, such as renewable sources, by increasing a reliance on alternative fuels, and expanding domestic energy production in an environmentally and fiscally responsible way.

Senate 2010 Polls

May

On May 28, 2010, Rasmussen Reports released the latest telephone survey of Likely Voters in Washington, which found Murray with 48% support while Rossi earned 47%. Two percent (2%) preferred some other candidate in the race, and four percent (4%) were undecided.^[15] In the final week of polling in May, according to a non-partisan University of Washington survey, Republican candidate Dino Rossi pulled ahead of incumbent Democrat Patty Murray for Washington state's U.S. Senate race. That was the same week Rossi announced his candidacy.^[16]

September

On September 2, 2010, MyNorthwest reported the latest Rasmussen Reports survey in Washington, which shows Rossi with 48 percent of the vote and Murray with 46 percent. Three percent prefer a different candidate, and three percent are undecided.^[17][18] The Weekly Standard further detailed the September 2nd Rasmussen poll showing Dino Rossi outpacing Patty Murray, 50-47 percent, when "leaners" are included. This is roughly in line with other recent results, as well as SurveyUSA's recent poll showing of a 52-45 percent (Rossi edge).^[19][20]

The Seattle Times on September 13, 2010, reported that a new Elway Poll on the Senate race has incumbent Democrat Patty Murray up 50-41% over Republican challenger Dino Rossi.^[21] The poll of 500 likely voters showed Murray's support strongest is among Baby Boomers, women and retirees. Rossi has a big edge in Eastern Washington, Pierce and Kitsap counties, and with voters earning more than $75,000. He also leads among independent voters, according to the Elway Poll.

On September 23, Seattle's King 5 local news posted the results of a poll of 609 likely statewide voters, conducted by Survey USA, which showed the race in a dead heat. Dino Rossi was at 48% and Senator Patty Murray was at 50%, with a 4% margin of error.^[22] A Washington poll of 1,000 likely voters was conducted on September 25 by Pulse Opinion Research for FOX News, and it was reported that Dino Rossi held 47% with Patty Murray at 48% in a very close race.^[23] On September 28, Rasmussen Reports conducted a survey of 750 likely Washington voters which showed Rossi picking up 48% support, while Murray earned 47% of the vote when leaners are included. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and three percent (3%) are undecided.^[24]

October

On October 7, MyNorthwest Seattle news reported the results of a poll conducted in the Washington Senate race between former state Senator Dino Rossi and incumbent Patty Murray. The survey, conducted by Fabrizio, McLaughlin and Associates for the conservative-aligned American Action Forum, showed Rossi leading Murray 48 percent to 42 percent among likely voters.^[25] According to the Fabrizio survey, 45 percent of likely voters view Murray favorably, compared with 45 percent who view her unfavorably. That's not far off from Rossi's ratings; 46 percent of likely voters viewed him favorably while 41 percent viewed him unfavorably.

Endorsements

• U.S. Senator Dr. Tom Coburn (R-OK) endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Dino Rossi.^[26]
• Washington state Tea Party activists have endorsed Republican Dino Rossi's campaign against Democrat Patty Murray for U.S. Senate.^[27]
• Dr. Art Coday, a candidate running for Washington's State Representative, endorsed Dino Rossi for U.S. Senate.
• Rossi is endorsed by Senator Jim DeMint from South Carolina.^[28]
• Scott Brown has endorsed Rossi.^[29]
• FreedomWorks PAC announced its endorsement of Republican candidate Dino Rossi in the Washington Senate Race against incumbent Senator Patty Murray (D, WA). Rossi has earned the PAC’s Champion of Freedom designation because of his commitment to fiscal responsibility and steadfast defense of the Constitution.^[30]

Political history

Dino Rossi served in the Washington state Senate from 1997 through 2003. He represented the 5th Legislative District in east King County. In 2003, he served as chairman of the Senate Ways & Means Committee where he was charged with producing the state’s budget.

Rossi-Locke budget

Dino Rossi's most prominent political achievement came in 2003. As the ranking Republican state Senator, Rossi played a key role in tackling a record $2.3 billion state budget shortfall. He did it by aggressively courting several Democrats and persuading them to go along with an array of deep spending cuts.^[31] Dino Rossi took a tough budget proposed by Democratic Gov. Gary Locke — a budget that legislators weren't sure Locke really believed in — and made it believable. The Rossi-Locke budget saved the people from increases in major taxes and helped unleash a strong economic rebound.

Campaign for Governor

Dino Rossi is one the state's best-known Republicans, having waged two campaigns for governor. In Washington state's 2004 gubernatorial elections, Dino Rossi at first won by a majority vote, and then won again after a recount; however, after a second hand recount later challenged by Doctor Art Coday as unconstitutional, Rossi was 133 votes shy and lost the race to Christine Gregoire. Dino Rossi would later lose a rematch against Governor Gregoire in 2008.^[32]

References

External Links

• Dino Rossi for U.S. Senate - Washington, Republican
• Dino Rossi - Facebook
• Rossi for Senate - Twitter
• DinoRossiWA - YouTube

Also See

• 2010 Midterm Elections
• Patty Murray - Democrat