Trump EPA Spox Juggles Jobs In Two Washingtons, And It Hasn’t Gone Well

"Doug Ericksen is trying to hold down two jobs in two different Washingtons. And it’s not going terribly well.

Ericksen was an early backer of Donald Trump who shares the president’s skepticism of environmental regulations and climate change. In January, he was rewarded with a job in Washington D.C., running communications and helping to reshape the Environmental Protection Agency.

But he didn’t leave his old job to take on the new one. Erickson remains a top Republican in the Washington state Senate, which is currently in session 2,808 miles due west in Olympia.

Ericksen is not just another state senator. His absence is the linchpin to party control of the state Senate, since Washington state Republicans control the chamber by just one vote. Without him, party-line votes are tied, with the Democratic lieutenant governor in a position to break the tie in Democrats’ favor."

Lisa Rein and Brady Dennis report for the Washington Post February 7, 2017.