Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 372 - 396 of 3750
Have you ever noticed that many really bad ideas in governance seem to come to Washington State first? Ideas like state wide vote by mail, COVID patients in nursing homes, and vaccine passports? Why would that be? Is it because we're reliably Democrat-leaning, but also a long way from the east coast centers of power. What better place to experiment with legal changes that might further a political agenda than in the "other Washington?" Are we the national testing ground for bad governance?...
It’s time to decide if you want a COVID vaccination. If you want to take a precaution to help you avoid contracting COVID, then you can accept a free vaccination. If you don’t want a new COVID vaccine, you can turn down the free vaccination. It’s that simple. You are free to decide what you want to do with your body. The ugliest side effect of the COVID vaccinations is the nasty, bullying attitude affecting some people. I keep speaking with people and business owners about how badly people treat...
The prostitution opinion article missed one “small” detail. What about design? As an example, dad bought this really nice Case IH Quadtrac. The engine is designed to run on diesel, though, it will run on gasoline. I’d get serious acceleration and power out of that “sluggish” diesel motor, something that I like in motors! But alas, that desire for instantaneous gratification seizes up the engine in less than a minute. Not good. Really a poor choice actually, being that I could use that tractor for years and years by following the manufactu...
When Congress established the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) in 1935, it was intended to provide temporary and partial income replacement for workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. It was supposed to be a “bridge” to a new job and not “in lieu of compensation” to remain jobless. The coronavirus pandemic produced massive layoffs. The resulting economic downturn swelled the ranks of unemployed Americans by more than 14 million — from 6.2 million in February to 20.5 mill...
It has become the fashion for people in our town to start conversations with the question “Have you gotten your vaccine yet?” It’s happened to me several times in the last week, and I’m always a bit stunned by the question. You can stop asking me that. It’s none of your business. There. I said it. I’m a very private person and my health care is not your business. I only share my medical history with my health care provider. My health care provider is required by law to protect my privacy. I...
In a previous update to you, I talked about the trifecta of proposals that could drastically increase the price we all pay at the pump. This could raise costs for those that can least afford it, including an increase in food costs. It’s frustrating to report back to you that two of those three bills have passed the Legislature. Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Cap-and-Tax” scheme in Senate Bill 5126 and the high-cost (low-carbon) fuel standard in House Bill 1091 both passed on near party lines. The Legisla...
Whitman County was placed in Phase 2 restrictions three weeks ago and we waited for a return to Phase 3, but now that isn’t going to happen. Gov. Jay Inslee chickened out. Facing a massive rollback to Phase 2 for Western Washington, meaning Seattle, Everett, and Olympia, he announced his decision to take a two-week pause on changes to counties’ COVID restrictions. Instead, all 39 counties in Washington will continue with their current phase designation. It means Whitman County remains stuck with Phase 2 restrictions until future notice. If the...
Chickens are part of a farm community. They are laying eggs for food, helping children raise FFA and 4-H animals for the fair and some people like them as pets. The usual opposition when city councils consider letting people keep chickens at home are concerns over noise, smell, and bugs, Cities have ordinances already in place to police the problems. It’s unfortunate when the public presents feedback in a public meeting and a city-sponsored online poll, and it’s ignored. The City of Colfax polled people about allowing chickens and 81.8% are in...
Public records show lawmakers plan to use the capital gains income tax to set up a lawsuit to try to impose a broad-based graduated income tax. They're going to get not one, but two. It could be years, however, before we know if the state Supreme Court decides to uphold its numerous rulings saying that you own your income or if they'll instead reverse course. Just days after the Legislature approved Senate Bill 5096, which institutes an income tax on capital gains, the Freedom Foundation filed a lawsuit in Douglas County. A separate group, The...
What is the right answer on the climate solutions quiz, the great test of our time? Top-down directives for green infrastructure? Not if we want to keep American jobs secure, energy reliable and affordable, and technological ingenuity strong, argues Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, lead Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee. Instead, we need market-led innovation in the energy sector. Which resource do we tick, then? Wind and solar? Hydro? Nuclear? Surely not fossil fuels. “All-of-the-above,” she tells us. Hold on. Before choosing that la...
As if the black and brown lives that have been snuffed out by police without justification isn’t enough, there are other recent events that reveal the inadequate training and/or integrity of some police and law enforcement personnel. A 73-year-old woman in Colorado left Walmart without paying for $14 worth of goods, probably because of her dementia, and was tackled and handcuffed, later providing entertainment for those police. People who have mental disabilities are met with violence by law enforcement, as probably the case of the 70 y...
A well-orchestrated plan, or an unimaginable set of events that just fell into place with the United States front and center... You tell me! Scare people with a virus, force them to wear masks then place them in quarantine. Count the number of dead every second of every day in every headline. By the way, 0.8 % gets the virus, recover. About 0.1-0.2 % of who get it die. Most all of them have other medical problems. Did you catch that? Less than .02% die. Close businesses and 5 million instantly unemployed. Remove entertainment and prohibit...
Sometimes being first isn’t good. Such is the case with legislation making Washington the only state to ban natural gas in new homes and commercial buildings. Thankfully, the legislators ended their session in Olympia and left that bad idea on the table. However, it is destined to come back next year. The issue is complicated and expensive. Earlier this year, Gov. Jay Inslee (D) unveiled it as part of a package to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It included a phase out of natural gas for space and water heating by forbidding the use of fossil...
In 2012, state voters decided to go where no other state ever had - they legalized adult-use marijuana, reversing 70 years of policy that by most measures was a waste of time and money. The prohibition against marijuana consumption had virtually no effect on its price, availability, or use. And yet, in that same time period, we taxpayers had to foot the bill for enforcement and incarceration. For many - like me the vote to legalize marijuana was not a vote to endorse its use. It was a vote to act in a pragmatic manner. Simply put, a lot of the...
While European cities are welcoming large cruise ships again, many of the same ship owners are canceling calls to North American seaports because of continued stringent COVID restrictions. In March 2020, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a "No Sail and Suspension of Further Embarkation" order. The 2020 cruise season abruptly ended. Since then, the order has been only slightly modified. However, Canada's shutdown has been extended through February 2022. Both directives apply to vessels...
The 2021 legislative session, which is scheduled to end April 25, will be remembered for several things - some good, some bad. The candidates for the "bad" column may include a variety of new or increased taxes and fees that will hit your pocketbook in different ways. For instance, a higher state gas tax and a new "cap and trade" tax that would hit motorists hard, and a higher cellphone tax. Also, before the Legislature wraps up its 105-day session, it's likely to pass Senate Bill 5096, which...
My guide dog needs to stay focused when we are walking to be able to keep us safe. She loves her work. What bothers her is when other dogs run up to us. I did not think this was going to be a problem, since we have a leash law here in Colfax. I learned that either people do not know that or they do not care! When my dog is distracted it puts us in danger. It can get me confused as to where I am going. My dog is good at what she does for me and I would appreciate it if all would follow the law and please keep your dogs on a leash. “All dogs m...
I’m by no means a mathematician but when the public works director and county commissioner come out and say they gave out $150,000 in additional rock budget and spent $300,000 on crushing that adds up to $450,000. Where is the other $1 million going from the levy increase?! Mr. Storey you hired the three equipment operators the month after the levy passed in November 2019. You said publicly that you would hire three new operators with the levy money no contingency on gas tax revenue. You mentioned the gas tax loss for not filling those newly c...
My letter is in response to Bill Forhan, of Leavenworth, in last week’s paper. At last, a brave individual is willing to come forward to intelligently address the actual need to keep the dams exactly where they stand. All of us benefit. Get a spine, people!...
The world is beginning to unfreeze after more than a year of physical and economic lockdowns. Many states have ended mask mandates, citing increasing vaccinations and decreasing cases. Others are allowing normal activities to resume. By and large, it seems as though America is ready to turn a corner and return to normal life. That is, unless you're in Washington. As our state Legislature moves closer and closer towards the conclusion of its 2021 session, the Capitol in Olympia still sits in...
The state House of Representatives passed a $58.2 billion 2021-23 operating budget that relies on an unnecessary, unpopular, and likely unconstitutional income tax on capital gains. As I've said before, state tax collections are now back to pre-pandemic levels. We also have billions coming into the state from the federal stimulus package. There is no legitimate reason to pass new taxes, especially a tax that voters in our state have rejected 10 times in the past. I have concerns that state...
