Letters

Colfax

Slinging mud

Patricia Bates letter to the editor last week would be humorous if it were not so vicious and dishonest.

She blames Cathy McMorris Rodgers for the sequester and particularly for the results of the sequester in regards to Hanford cleanup.

However, a majority of both parties voted for the sequester, and President Obama signed it into law.

In addition, it is the Obama administration that is implementing the sequester cuts and not the Congress.

So, we could substitute President Obama’s name into Ms Bates’ letter in place of Cathy McMorris Rodgers and it would be just as valid an argument against the President and the Democratic party.

More so, because the administration has a great deal of discretion on where monies are spent and where they are not within the sequestration.

Patricia Bates, who (according to the Asotin Democrat Party website) is the Asotin County Democrat State Committee Woman, is merely “slinging mud” rather than attempting honest debate. Unfortunately, that is too often what passes for political discourse these days. The sequester is not even a real cut. To call it a cut is merely “spin”. It is in reality just a decrease in the upward rate of government spending. If we refuse to honestly frame the issues in the political arena rather than just add “spin” or “sling mud” then the democratic republic in which we live cannot function as it was designed. Shame on those that distort the truth for momentary political gain.

Travis Brock,

Capital Improvements

Saturday, April 6, my wife and I received our ballots from the Whitman County Elections Office. With a chuckle I mentioned I have no idea what we’re voting for now. I opened my ballot and found the Colfax School District was requesting $250,000 for Capital Improvements.

So I did the math on what it would add to my tax bill and thought, “Capital Improvements?” Nothing was coming to mind. I hadn’t remembered seeing anything in the Gazette and I hadn’t noticed anyone shaking their Blue and Gold poms poms reminding us to Vote for the Schools. So the Mrs. and I decided instead of blindly voting “for the children”’, we’d cast “no” votes sending the message people won’t vote to pay more taxes until they can hear or see the facts.

Reasoning seemed simple enough. I felt like I just received a bill for $250,000 that I’m expected to pay a portion of even though all I know is I’m paying for “Capital improvements”. I’m thinking, “Could this be new furniture for the Administration? Could be paint for both buildings? New windows??? No, we just did that recently. Aw shucks, I hate to vote “No” but I’m busy and I don’t know when I’ll find out what this is for. How many other locals would vote blindly?’ And to the ballot box our ballots went.

Today is Tuesday, April 9. As I write this, we have just received a school district mailing telling us the Capital Improvements will be discussed at a meeting April 11. I wonder how many other supporters of the Blue and Gold already sent their ballots in because they too are busy and didn’t remember what we were being asked to approve? And how many voted “No”?

We agree, the doors need replaced and we would have voted yes. And this is only the second time in our voting lives we have voted against any school levy. But remember! There are many in our community that don’t keep up on certain issues that others do. Remind us what we’re voting for before we get the ballot!

It’s a great measure and deserves a “Yes”. We hope you’ll think so, too!

Dana and Shelley Elder,

Colfax

Buy local

I just saw the announcement “Drink responsibly, drink locally with Buy Local Moscow at BrewFest 2013” and wanted to comment.

It has been said that the Chamber of Commerce needs to get back to “business” when it comes to their activities. I couldn’t agree more. Supporting local businesses is a must for the Colfax, Whitman County, and Washington economies (“local” is not just Colfax).

I think we should be careful how we use the phrase “buy local.” I consider Moscow a partner city, but I do not think we should be promoting it as “buy local” (a carefully reworded email could.)

As Washingtonians, we will never see a dime of tax revenue spent in Idaho.

The Hawkins deal takes on new meaning using this perspective.

Since taking office I have come to understand the importance of sales tax revenue to our economy.

When I need big ticket items not easily found on the Palouse (or a broader selection and convenient hours), I try to shop in Spokane instead of Lewiston.

I would love to always shop in Colfax.

but when the bill changes by hundreds of dollars I have to draw the line.

Anyway, I got a sense of the problem of not “buying locally” a couple of weeks ago when out of convenience I went to Home Depot in Lewiston.

On that trip I ran into no less than six individuals and/or families from Colfax.

I know Lewiston was more convenient, but we (me included) sent a lot of tax revenue dollars to the state of Idaho.

I would really like to see everyone (supported by the Chamber) push a “buy local” campaign that includes helping people visualize a map with a pinpoint in Colfax, then Pullman, then Spokane. We need our tax dollars to stay in our state.

Mayor Todd Vanek,

Colfax