Bellingham Business Journal: Rep. Rick Larsen tours All American Marine during March 13 Bellingham visit
by Evan Marczynski March 14, 2012
Rep. Rick Larsen toured the facilities of Bellingham boat manufacturer All American Marine Tuesday, March 13, as part of a daylong series of visits and meetings between the congressman and local residents.
Larsen, a Democrat representing Washington state’s 2nd Congressional District, was an early-morning guest on the “Brad and John Morning Show” on KISM classic rock radio.
He also toured the Whatcom Educational Credit Union and the North Coast Credit Union.
Later in the afternoon, Larsen met with women’s health experts and representatives from Planned Parenthood of Mount Baker about congressional attempts to limit access to contraception.
All American Marine, located at 200 Harris Ave., builds 30 to 100-foot-long aluminum catamarans and traditional monohull boats.
Since its founding in 1987, it has built more than 100 sea vessels, according the company’s website. Primary customers include the passenger, work boat, research and fishing industries.
Larsen enters the 2012 campaign season having been in office since 2001. He defeated Republican challenger John Koster in a close 2008 contest with a margin of 6,519 votes.
The congressman has said job growth is his top priority.
He recently voted in support of House Resolution 4105, an attempt to foster American manufacturing exports by allowing the federal government to administer tariffs on illegally subsidized imported goods.
Larsen has also expressed favor for the hotly debated Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point, proposed by SSA Marine of Seattle.
“Exports are a surefire way to get our economy moving and grow good jobs in the community,” Larsen said in a statement Feb. 28, 2011, just after SSA submitted preliminary documents on the proposal. “I am pleased to see a based company making a major private investment in our nation’s export infrastructure.”
Two Republican challengers to Larsen are currently on the 2012 ballot: Greg Anders, executive director of Bellingham’s Heritage Flight Museum and a former Air Force combat pilot; and Dan Matthews, who has yet to report additional information, according to the Federal Election Commission.
