Don Benton

On Tuesday the Spokesman-Review's Rich Roesler compiled a list of the top state senators in terms of cash on hand in their campaigns, whether they are running this year or in 2010.

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown (D-Spokane) leads the way with $131,104 followed by Sen. Margarita Prentice (D-Renton), which makes sense considering their power and the DemocraticSen. Lisa Brown (D-Spokane) lean of the state, but following those two are five Republicans. Vancouver's Don Benton has $107,842 and Minority Leader Mike Hewitt (R-Walla Walla) has $102,199, while Joe Zarelli (R-Ridgefield), Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville) and Bob Morton (R-Kettle Falls) aren't far behind.

So while the leadership caucus may not be terribly successful, as came to light during the Pam Roach controversy earlier this year, Republican State Senators are performing relatively well.

It took David Carrier (D-Cascade Park) getting stood up twice before he decided to stand up. At least that is one way to look at it. The Columbian is reporting that the WSU-Vancouver assistant economics professor was ditched twice by Sen. Don Benton for meetings on affordable housing, health care and predatory lending before finally showing up and trumpeting the need for tax cuts.

The sides are starting to take shape in the much publicized and fiercely worded quarrel among members of the Republican Senate caucus. Today Sen. Don Benton (R-Vancouver) took sides with Sen. Pam Roach (R-Auburn). In a letter to his colleagues obtained by the TNT, Benton criticized the professionalism, leadership and fiscal responsibility of the Republican caucus leaders, notably Sen. Mike Hewitt (R-Walla Walla).