Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Wash. Lawmakers Mostly Holding Their Fire on Syria Vote

Members of Congress from Washington state are mostly undecided ahead of an expected vote next week to authorize military force against Syria.

Indecision crosses party lines. Republican Congressman Dave Reichert did say in an emailed statement that it's right and proper for President Obama to seek Congressional approval. But he hasn't said how he'll vote.

Freshman Democrats Denny Heck and Derek Kilmer both say they want to carefully review the intelligence before making a decision.

"We cannot engage in military action based on faulty intelligence, the painful lesson of the War in Iraq,” said Heck in a prepared statement. 

Eastern Washington Republican Cathy McMorris-Rodgers posted a one-question survey on her official website asking constituents how she should vote.

Democrat Rick Larsen went on Facebook to solicit input. So far, most commenters have spoken up against U.S. involvement in Syria. 

Rep. Jim McDermott has staked out the clearest position in the delegation. The veteran Democrat came out strongly against an air strike on Syria in remarks delivered at a Labor Day picnic in Seattle.

Correspondent Tom Banse is an Olympia-based reporter with more than three decades of experience covering Washington and Oregon state government, public policy, business and breaking news stories. Most of his career was spent with public radio's Northwest News Network, but now in semi-retirement his work is appearing on other outlets.