Northwest Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray of Washington joined a bipartisan group of their colleagues urged federal officials to oppose a plan in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget that would auction off transmission assets of the Bonneville Power Administration and other power marketing administrations.  In a letter the senators wrote to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, they noted a long, bipartisan tradition of opposing such proposals.  The senators expressed concern that the proposal would hurt citizens and local businesses who depend on BPA for affordable electricity, adding economic value would shift from families and businesses in western states to investors and lead to higher rates.  Utilities from across the Northwest have spoken out to express concern that selling off BPA’s assets would raise electricity rates and hurt consumers.  Fourteen Democrats and nine Republicans signed on to the letter.