of staff Tom Miller) visited Portland for a bike
issue roundtable in July.
(Photo © Jonathan Maus)
Former Portland City Commissioner and now U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer has garnered major media exposure in recent weeks.
In early December the Oregonian profiled his rising clout on Capitol Hill. The paper called his position on the Ways and Means Committee, “his chance to become a national power player.” (Unfortunately, the tax provisions he championed became collateral damage in the recently passed Energy Bill).
Also in the Oregonian article, a colleague on the committee referred to Blumenauer as, “an up-and-comer”.
Then last Saturday, The Wall Street Journal put Blumenauer on their front page. The article focused on Blumenauer’s interest in and dedication to bicycle issues:
“Some members of Congress come to Washington and get in the fast lane. The 59-year-old Mr. Blumenauer came to Washington and got in the bike lane. Few members of Congress care more than he does about cranks and sprockets.”
Blumenauer’s bikey reputation also seems to be well-known in D.C.:
“‘Bikeman,’ a House colleague from Oregon calls him. Mr. Blumenauer owns seven bikes. His congressional office is one of the few — if not the only one — that didn’t even apply for a parking permit. On occasion, Mr. Blumenauer has cycled to the White House. On Mr. Blumenauer’s first visit, the Secret Service, more accustomed to limousines, was flummoxed at the sight of his bike.”
Blumenauer, along with House colleagues Jim Oberstar (D-Minnesota) and Peter DeFazio (D-Eugene), are the backbone of the 170-member, bi-partisan Congressional Bike Caucus.
Blumenauer visited Portland for a briefing on bike issues back in July and is up for re-election this year.