Fuse Newsroom

"Senator Bailey should ask the 22 Republicans -- half the caucus -- who voted for the Dream Act if this is just political," said Collin Jergens of Fuse Washington..."The Dream Act is about opening the doors of opportunity for thousands of young Washingtonians," he added.  "The only remaining obstacle is Sen. Bailey."

Results from a recent poll shows that voters in the 48th legislative district--the long contested Microsoft suburbs--aren't very fond of state Sen. Rodney Tom, who joined with the Republicans this year, ousting the Democratic majority, to become the leader of the Majority Coalition Caucus.

"It would be irresponsible for regulators to ignore the single biggest impact of exporting dirty coal: climate change," [Collin Jergens of Fuse Washington] said.  "Washingtonians need only look out their window to see that our weather is getting weirder. We see more frequent droughts, floods, wildfires, and storms.  It's no accident. Yet, Big Coal has opposed greater accountability, transparency, and public oversight every step of the way."

The liberal Seattle advocacy group Fuse Washington sent out numerous Twitter tweets Monday about its lobbying effort. "In total, Fuse members across WA have emailed or called legislators 5,077 times in support of background checks for gun purchases!," read one message.

Democrats respond to a Republican plan to create a minimum wage exemption: You like it that much? Apply it to yourself.

An "angry" crowd badgered Tom with "hostile questions," says one of the people at the meeting, Collin Jergens, spokesman for the Democratic-leaning group Fuse. "Members were frustrated that Tom betrayed the principles on which he ran for office. They were angry that Tom put an anti-Obamacare Republican in charge of the health care committee and Pam Roach in charge of anything."

[Fuse Member] Brett Hill voted for Democrat Rodney Tom for state senator from Bellevue in 2010 -- before Tom joined forces with Republicans to take control of the Senate.

"Who here thinks that is a fairly crappy thing to do?" Hill asked roughly 100 people at a 48th Legislative District town hall meeting in Bellevue held by Tom plus Reps. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, and Cyrus Habib, D-Bellevue. About half of the crowd clapped.

"Quite a sea of red," said Seattle attorney David Ortman, looking out over the crowd.  Green-shirted coal port supporters were a tiny minority. Such groups as Fuse Washington worked phone banks to get Gateway Pacific opponents to show up at the hearing.

Nonetheless, the appointment has generated negative public comment and opposition from lawmakers, organized labor and advocacy groups, many of whom have been at odds with the Port in the past on other issues.

On Thursday, the liberal group Fuse Washington said it had mobilized 1,800 people to write to the Port Commission to demand further review of Yoshitani's arrangement with Expeditors.

Collecting what her campaign considers a trifecta of essential progressive support, Noel Frame announced this morning that she received sole endorsements from three "backbone" organizations that will help her win an open seat for state representative in the 36th District (Ballard, Magnolia, Queen Anne).

These are the "three leading progressive organizations" giving Frame their support: Fuse Washington, which issues a progressive voters guide and uses a large online network for political advocacy; Washington Bus, a political engagement nonprofit that focuses heavily on get-out-the-vote efforts (where Frame is also a board member); and Frame's own group, Progressive Majority, which recruits liberal candidate for office.

Two major corporations, the Walgreen drug store chain and General Motors, have joined the ranks of those pulling out of the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

Collin Jergens at Fuse Washington, which has led the anti-ALEC campaign here, said the group is happy to see GM and Walgreen leave, but noted: "Washington still has nearly 20 legislators in ALEC.  They should renounce their memberships and represent the people of this state instead of deep-pocketed corporations."

Fuse Washington has released its Progressive Voter's Guide--a list of candidates gold-starred by the labor-, environmentalist-, and women's rights'-backed group. In addition to the usual suspects (Jay Inslee for governor, Maria Cantwell for US Senator), Fuse recommends you vote for:

• Laura Ruderman, Darcy Burner, or Suzan DelBene for the new 1st District Congressional seat;

• Bill Finkbeiner, a Republican, for Lieutenant Governor (a dual endorsement with the incumbent, Democrat Brad Owen, who received a less enthusiastic write-up);

• Noel Frame, a Democrat, in the crowded Democratic intramural for 36th District state representative;

"We applaud these five companies for rejecting ALEC's shadowy conservative agenda:  When will Washington legislators Don Benton, Mike Carrell and others join them in rejecting ALEC's backwards priorities," said Collin Jergens of FUSE Washington, a progressive group that has called for companies and lawmakers to quit the council

"Shame on you, Rob McKenna! Trying to play politics with the lives of Washingtonians," said Nikki Mackey, 38, of Seattle, who was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in 2010, nine months after losing her job.

 Because the law bars insurers from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, Mackey says she won't have to worry about getting health insurance.

Retiring state Auditor Brian Sonntag and maverick Sen. Tim Sheldon of Potlatch were among conservative Democrats that threw their support behind Republican Rob McKenna's campaign for governor today. Not such a shock, given their past positions.

Sonntag has been a popular figure with voters, serving five terms. But liberal advocacy group Fuse put out a news release dismissing Sonntag and Sheldon.

Tim Eyman is turning into big corporations' favorite populist in Washington state, and the Mukilteo-based initiative promoter is eagerly embracing their embrace.

"Eyman's corporate backers are looking to buy another election and protect their lucrative corporate loopholes . . . We believe initiatives should be decided by the people, not out of state corporations buying our elections," said Collin Jergens of Fuse Washington, a statewide consumer-activist group.

The world's largest retailer -- Wal-Mart -- has followed on-line giant Amazon.com in withdrawing from the controversial, backstage conservative group the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

The withdrawal by Amazon.com was a victory for the local progressive group Fuse Washington, as well as such national organizations as ColorofChange and People for the American Way.

Activists protested Amazon's participating in ALEC outside the group's shareholder meeting earlier Thursday. Collin Jergens, a spokesman at the Seattle-based advocacy group Fuse, said the activists were pleased with Amazon's decision.

"We hope that other corporations and members of the legislature will follow its lead," Jergens said. "We believe that legislators should be accountable to the voters, and not corporations, and this is a step in the right direction."