Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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A state audit published Nov. 14 found that more than 2,000 people who tapped a fund that benefits only some workers with up to 18 weeks off work with pay — while harming the paychecks of most other workers, including those with low incomes — violated state law by taking money from the state’s unemployment insurance program at the same time. They had their Paid Family Medical Leave and ate up UI benefits, too. The Employment Security Department, which administers both programs, did not have a sys...
This Saturday, I will walk across the stage and receive my bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho. It’s a moment I’ve anticipated for years, culminating in countless hours of hard work, late-night study sessions, and an endless cycle of deadlines. I should feel nothing but excitement for this chapter of my life to close, but instead, a strange cocktail of emotions has taken over. Relief is there, yes, but it’s tangled up with an odd sense of apprehension. What’s next? The looming p...
One of the most significant shifts from our recent elections is America is headed back to an “all of the above” strategy that expands our energy options rather than further restricting them. In the last four years, there has been an expensive shift away from carbon fuels (gasoline, and natural gas) to subsidizing wind, solar and electric vehicles (EVs). President Trump would be wise to look at inclusive strategies incorporated in the 2005 Energy Policy Act signed into law by President Geo...
In the aftermath of the catastrophic fire which gutted Paris’ Cathedral of Notre Dame in 2019, President Emmanuel Macron announced it would be rebuilt within five years and promised it would be “more beautiful than before!” Macron, who remains head of a divided French government, saw restoration of the 13th Century church as a way to restore national pride and unite fellow French citizens. When interviewed just before Notre Dame’s massive doors re-opened on Dec. 7, Macron called the restoration a miracle—an accomplishment of the unthinkab...
As I sit down to write my final column for the Whitman County Gazette, my heart is filled with a bittersweet mixture of gratitude, love and anticipation. It’s not easy to say goodbye to a place that has left such an indelible mark on my life. The rolling wheat fields, the kind-hearted people and the stories we have shared together will remain with me long after I turn the page to this new chapter. I am humbled and honored to share that I will be stepping into the role of managing editor for the Lincoln County Record-Times. It’s an opp...
On Saturday, Dec. 7, I had the enjoyment of attending my daughter’s graduation from University of Idaho. As a father, I enjoyed kicking back in the stands and watching the next Harnack generation matriculate. And, as you would expect, I was as proud as any dad in the crowd. Aside from being Dad and enjoying the fanfare and Pomp and Circumstance, however, one part of the ceremony didn’t sit well with me — the push for so-called “DEI,” or diversity, equity and inclusion. As I crossed the campus headed to the ceremony, the push for DEI became ev...
If Washington state elected officials and energy planners need to be reminded of the risks of increasing reliance on wind-generated electricity, they can look to the week-and-a-half after Thanksgiving. Starting on the night before Thanksgiving, the amount of electricity generated by wind power in the BPA system across the northwest collapsed, falling to zero megawatts around midnight. Generation remained extremely low until midday on December 7, more than nine days later. During those nine...
I-2066, “Protect Energy Choice,” was a light in the darkness for Washington state conservatives on election night last month. It was one of the few victories claimed by Republicans in a state dominated by Democrats. But what picture does this win paint? What can we learn and how can we grow from this victory? We believe the success of I-2066 establishes a numerical map toward victory that we can leverage to our advantage in future elections. For background, Initiative 2066 gave voters the power to protect natural gas for heating, cooking and...
Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, has been namedthe next FCC chairman by President-elect Donald Trump. Based on his past and current statements, a large change in the direction of the FCC should be expected. A few key takeaways: Net Neutrality Carr was part of the initial repeal of the net neutrality rules in 2017, and has continued to decry their reinstatement. As I’ve argued in the past, the FCC would be wise to avoid reinstating these rules as they overstep the scope of the FCC and create worse o...
When Jay Inslee took the job as governor in 2013, the state’s annual operating budget was approximately $38.4 billion. After 12 years of the Inslee administration, the state is now spending almost twice as much per year, $75.5 billion. Yet, despite this massive increase in state spending, legislators are claiming that they will need another $10-12 billion over the next 4 years to balance the state’s checkbook. The state does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. Democrat Sen. Ja...
Ah, Thanksgiving. Turkey, cranberries, pumpkin pie and family. It’s a time to give thanks and celebrate family traditions. But not if you’re glued to a cellphone. As adults, it’s time to set an example and put those devices away. Spend time with your family partaking in long-standing traditions or creating new ones. There’s no need to be spending the day surfing social media. Instead, enjoy real social media with family and friends. Talk together, eat together, enjoy each other’s company. You have a lot to be thankful for, and Thursday...
The cost of a gallon of fuel may increase by 45 cents per gallon in the wake of the I-2117 failure. The CO2 tax already jumped; it is set at auctions and on private markets when organizations covered by the law purchase allowances covering their emissions. Immediately after voters decided to keep Washington’s tax on CO2 emissions, allowance prices on the private market jumped by more than 10% to about $57 per metric ton of CO2, according to the cCarbon dashboard of Washington Carbon Allowances. This capped off an increase of more than $20/MT d...
After years of odious political behavior, it is time for elected officials to focus on governing our nation with civility and respect. It is time to go back to acting for the common good. Enough is enough! Our country needs leaders, irrespective of party affiliation, to set aside differences and unite---not demagogue and jockey for power. America is weakened by the continual onslaught of character assassinations, false accusations, misinformation, and bitterness which has been pervasive over the last dozen years. We do not know who to trust or...
Washington’s CO2 tax jumped after the failure of I-2117, likely increasing gas and energy prices compared to neighboring states. The price increase could double the impact on gas prices, increasing to about 45 cents per gallon. The CO2 tax is set at auctions and on private markets when organizations covered by the law, including the University of Washington, BP oil, and the City of Enumclaw, purchase allowances covering their emissions. Immediately after voters decided to keep Washington’s tax on CO2 emissions, allowance prices on the pri...
Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is considering a change to the state’s recently adopted premium change transparency rule. A press release from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner says, “The change would be specific to Phase 2 of the rule — the automatic inclusion of reasons for premium increases in policy renewals — and would move the timing of that action from June 2027 to June 2029.” Goodish? The rule applies to auto and home insurance policies. (Insurers of health, disability, life and long-term care are exempt from complianc...
Washington’s agriculture is a $12.8 billion business with 33,000 farms — and it runs on gasoline, diesel, and natural gas. The hundreds of big rigs hauling crops and food products are not electric. Even though new trucks have reduced CO2 and other pollutants, some politicians are hastily charging ahead to replace fossil-fueled trucks with unproven technology. According to 2021 Environmental Protection Agency data, transportation was responsible for 30 percent of greenhouse gases of which 80 per...
Were the Seattle legislators who said that farmers could afford to pay the state’s new CO2 tax right after all? A recent report from the Washington State Department of Licensing shows just 6.5 percent of funds set aside for farmers to collect a rebate on fuel taxes assessed by the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) have been accessed. State Senator Joe Nguyen (D-Seattle) mentioned the low number of farmers applying for the rebates recently, highlighting it as evidence that the impact of the CO2 tax w...
Dear Whitman County Commissioners: What is the proper role of government? Answer: “To protect the rights of the people.” I hear you’re failing County residents in regard to Harvest Hills. You were elected by County residents, not by a global corporation wanting to plunder and destroy County Ag land. That land can NEVER be remediated once developed. No matter what’s in a contract, or any ordinance, it’s foolish to believe otherwise. Look at the concrete and rebar at the base of those gigantic turbines. Large-scale industrial wind exists to...
I endorse Jenna Brozik as the next Superior Court judge. My name is Paul Hanes and I’ve been an attorney at Prinz & Brozik Law Offices for 7 years. Jenna is rare because she has maintained her passion and optimism from law school. Seasoned lawyers typically have a cynical outlook on life, but Jenna has maintained her zeal and passion for helping people and she stays true to her moral convictions. Jenna is an attorney who puts morality above money. Jenna believes that everyone deserves their day in court, but she has never assisted criminals a...
