Michael Baumgartner’s vote for tonight’s spending bill is a clear betrayal of the constituents he was elected to serve. The bill, which barely passed, overwhelmingly benefits billionaires—yet not a single one of Washington State’s 13 known billionaires resides in the 5th Congressional District. So, who exactly is he looking out for? Certainly not the people of Eastern Washington, who face real economic challenges that this legislation does nothing to address. Instead, his vote reveals a loyalty to his party and the ultra-wealthy donors who influence its priorities.
The 5th District isn’t home to tech moguls or corporate tycoons. It’s home to farmers, small business owners, healthcare workers, and working-class families who struggle with inflation, housing costs, and stagnant wages. They need relief, not handouts to billionaires who already benefit from massive tax breaks. Yet Baumgartner, rather than fighting for policies that would improve life for his constituents, has chosen to back a bill that prioritizes the interests of people who will never set foot in Spokane, Walla Walla, or Pullman.
This vote is especially egregious given the economic realities in Eastern Washington. The region still suffers from rural hospital closures, underfunded schools, and infrastructure needs that have been ignored for too long. Where is the investment in roads, broadband expansion, or rural healthcare? Instead of addressing these pressing concerns, Baumgartner signed off on legislation that directs wealth upward, further widening the economic divide between urban billionaires and the struggling middle class.
Baumgartner’s decision is not just about this one bill—it’s part of a broader pattern. Time and again, he has aligned himself with the GOP’s donor class, rather than the voters who put him in office. He talks a big game about representing the values of Eastern Washington, but his actions tell a different story. His vote tonight makes it clear that when forced to choose between billionaires and his own constituents, he will always side with the wealthiest Americans.
It’s also telling that his party pushed this bill through by the slimmest of margins. If it were truly good for the people, why did it struggle to pass? The answer is simple: it was written for a small elite, not for everyday Americans. Baumgartner had the opportunity to take a stand and demand a better deal for his district. Instead, he caved to party leadership and rubber-stamped a giveaway to the ultra-rich.
The people of Washington’s 5th District should ask themselves: What has Baumgartner actually done for them? Are their lives any better because of his time in office? Have their wages gone up? Are their schools better funded? Has healthcare become more accessible? The answer to all these questions is a resounding no. And yet, billionaires who already dodge their fair share of taxes just got another financial boost, courtesy of Baumgartner’s vote.
This is the core problem with his brand of politics—it’s performative. He might talk about protecting the working class, but his actions consistently prove otherwise. It’s one thing to call yourself a champion for Eastern Washington; it’s another to actually deliver policies that help the people who live there. So far, Baumgartner has failed on that front.
Voters deserve a representative who will prioritize their needs over party loyalty. They need someone who will fight for fair wages, better healthcare, and economic policies that actually help rural communities. Instead, they have someone who seems more interested in pleasing party bosses and wealthy donors. His vote tonight is just the latest example of where his true priorities lie.
There will come a time when the people of Eastern Washington have the chance to hold him accountable. When that time comes, they should remember this moment. They should remember who he really works for—not them, but the billionaires who benefit from his decisions.
The 5th District deserves better. It deserves a representative who fights for working people, not the ultra-rich. Baumgartner’s vote tonight proves he is not that representative.
