PORT TOWNSEND — The North Olympic Peninsula’s congressional representative said he needs more information about a deal with Iran to lift economic sanctions in exchange for that country scaling back its nuclear program before he backs it.
“I want to be in a position to support it but I need to do my due diligence before formalizing my position,” said Derek Kilmer, a Democrat from Gig Harbor who represents the 6th Congressional District.
Kilmer spoke about the deal to a Peninsula Daily News reporter after addressing more than 260 people at the annual Jefferson County Democrats Fish Feast fundraiser at the county fairgrounds Sunday.
Bruce Cowan, county Democratic Party chairman, did not have a total of funds raised at the event by Monday but said, “We hope it was in the five figures.”
About 70 volunteers participated in the event.
“We made a lot of new friends,” Cowan said.
“We were glad to see so many of the non-partisan candidates there.”
The deal between Iran and the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia and Germany and the European Union was reached on July 14 and later affirmed by the U.N. Security Council.
It seeks to curb Iran’s nuclear activities for at least a decade in exchange for easing of international economic sanctions.
Obama administration officials say Iran could regain access by mid-2016 to about $55 billion frozen in overseas accounts if it meets its obligations to destroy, suspend or scale back production of nuclear fuel and other activities needed to build a bomb, the Los Angeles Times said.
Congress faces a self-imposed Sept. 17 deadline to approve or reject the deal.
Kilmer said he has a few questions about inspection and enforcement which he expects to answer during a series of classified briefings over the next few weeks.
“What hasn’t been examined is the real risk if Congress rejects it,” Kilmer said.
Kilmer also said that he has marshalled bipartisan cooperation since taking office in 2013, but expects the remainder of this year’s Congressional session “will be a real test.”
“It’s been tough but I’ve usually found partners from both sides of the aisle,” Kilmer said.
“I’m trying to get Congress to act like adults and deal with the budget and address transportation funding, budgets and appropriations.”
Failure to address these issues, Kilmer said, could lead to a government shutdown or sequestration, which he called “another word for stupidity.”
During his 25-minute address Sunday, Kilmer stressed the need for diverse economic options.
“The world of economic opportunity should be open to everybody regardless of the circumstances of your birth or what your parents did,” he said.
“That’s why we are fighting for legislation that gives students a chance to borrow money at the same rate as Wall Street banks, or let them refinance their student loans in order to get a better rate.”
Kilmer criticized his colleagues, saying they lack scientific knowledge.
“We need a United States Congress that embraces science, that understands climate change is real and are willing to do something about it,” he said.
“I believe that science inspires our protection of Puget Sound, and I am working to increase funding for that critical body of water.”
State Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, said the state budget that came out of the overtime sessions this year, while a long time in development “is one of the most progressive in the state’s history.
Tharinger described Republican leaders as being “out to pick a fight with the [state Supreme] Court” over the court’s imposition of a $100,000 daily sanction against the Legislature.
The court had found the Legislature in contempt last year over its failure to fully fund public education, and set sanctions after it said the Legislature did not make enough progress this year.
“If that money was coming out of my pocket, I’d be pretty concerned,” Tharinger said, “but when you fold it into the $2.5 billion needed to fund education it’s not that big a number.”
He said the money won’t be wasted if it supports educational programs.
“We need to increase educational funding and we need to do it right and we need to have parity among all the districts,” Tharinger said.
“If that doesn’t happen, our area will be at a disadvantage in attracting jobs when compared against places like Redmond or Bellevue.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
