Tacoma representative leaves state GOP caucus
OLYMPIA – Maverick Republican Rep. Tom Campbell bolted from the state House GOP caucus on Tuesday after clashing with his new caucus leadership.
Campbell, a senior lawmaker now serving his fifth term from the 2nd District in Pierce County, said he isn’t switching parties, but will be his own caucus of one.
Campbell said he has grown increasingly unhappy with his caucus’ “cozy relationship” with the insurance and pharmacy industries and was infuriated when he was dumped from the House Health Care Committee.
“I don’t believe that what they do is right, and I’m not going to go along with it,” he said in an interview Tuesday night. “I’m the most senior member on Health Care from either party and have been a part of every important piece of health care legislation for the past decade.
“My life is health care. I don’t want to be president or governor or anything else. I want to work on health care legislation and really make a difference for people.”
He said he supported Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, for minority leader, but DeBolt narrowly lost to Bruce Chandler, R-Granger. Chandler retaliated by denying Campbell the thing he wanted most, the committee assignment, hoping he would leave the caucus, Campbell said.
“This disappoints me, but I’m certainly not going to let a bully pull me out of my office,” he said.
He said Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, has agreed to add him to the health panel, something he couldn’t do while Campbell was a member of the GOP caucus.
Chandler said he wasn’t punishing Campbell or trying to get him to quit.
“When you’re at 43 members (out of 98), what good does it do to start shooting your own?” he said. “He has been frustrated with his committee assignments, as other members sometimes are angry and frustrated, too.
“Leadership has a challenge of sending people to the committees where they fit best. I just try to be fair with every member.”
Chandler said there was heavy competition for the health committee and that he simply couldn’t accommodate Campbell’s demand.
“It’s unfortunate,” he said of Campbell’s exit. “It’s unusual but not unprecedented. People know Tom has always been an independent voter in the House. I have a lot of personal respect for Tom.”
Campbell’s departure lowers the GOP caucus to 42 members, to the Democrats’ 55. Campbell said he will continue to vote the Republican position on a number of issues.
He has voted with the Democrats on budget and taxes some years, angering his party.
Campbell has broken with his Republican colleagues more recently as well.
He has ardently supported Initiative 336, a measure backed by the Washington State Trial Lawyers that aims to reform the medical malpractice insurance system. Most Republicans support a competing measure sponsored by the Washington State Medical Association.
Last year Campbell angered many Republicans by publicly complaining when Sen. Alex Deccio, R-Yakima, used a racial slur during an argument with Campbell. Deccio, who is generally well-respected by members of both parties, apologized on the Senate floor. Some Republicans grumbled that Campbell’s argumentative style was partly to blame for Deccio’s outburst.
Campbell, 50, served as a Green Beret and has been a chiropractor in Spanaway for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Lynn, live on a small farm near Roy.