Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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As Washingtonians, all we have to do to enjoy some of the most beautiful natural scenery anywhere is to look out the window or take a short drive to one of our spectacular National Parks or Forests. We treasure our access to public lands, but we also demand accountability and transparency for the way those lands are managed. We keep in mind the legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt, who once said, “The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased an...
America is not the norm. As citizens of one of the world’s oldest constitutional republics, every American, myself included, sometimes needs reminding about the extent to which our freedoms and traditions are the exception rather than the rule in human history. The rule of law and constitutional limits on government power should not be taken for granted. The orderly transition of power from one presidential administration to the next is one of the fundamental principles that ensure stability for our system of s...
In the final weeks of the Obama administration, few actions have been as shocking as the decision to abandon our best ally in the Middle East, Israel. Israel not only shares our democratic values, but it is also a key U.S. ally in anti-terrorism efforts. The U.S. has traditionally exercised its veto power it has on the United Nations Security Council to prevent one-sided anti-Israel measures from being approved. The shameful abstention by the Obama administration in December’s Security Council vote on Resolution 2334, which w...
The great philosopher Bob Hope once said, “my idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” He has a point. This time of year, Christians celebrate the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the true ‘reason for the season,’ as we say, and the Christmas season reminds us to serve our neighbors. Part of what makes this season so special, beyond families traveling long distance to gather together, or the mus...
As the 114th Congress comes to an end, it is worth looking back on my first term in Congress and highlight the important accomplishments and the change that Americans should expect before the 115th Congress convenes next year. While there has been much disagreement between Republicans and Democrats in the nation’s capital, progress on issues that earned bipartisan support should not be overlooked. During the 114th Congress, Medicare was put on stronger footing by the “Doc Fix.” This improvement was signed into law to perma...
Even as this year’s legislative session comes to a close, the last bills passed by Congress are certainly not the least important. As the saying goes, “last but not least.” Bipartisan legislation passed just last week tackles real problems, such as the mental health crisis and the need for improving medical research. I joined my colleagues in the House to approve the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes the most significant bipartisan mental health reform in a decade, on a vote of 392-26. The legislation also suppo...
Hundreds of local residents showed up last week in Pasco for a debate that many thought had long been settled. We again find ourselves making the case that proposals to breach the Columbia and lower Snake River dams would hurt our local community, and negative impacts would far outweigh any benefit. I attended the meeting in Pasco to add my voice in strong opposition to proposals to remove the four dams. I was one voice among many, seeing firsthand the passionate feelings on the matter. Last week’s meeting was a glaring e...
Washington my home; Where ever I may roam; This is my land, my native land, Washington, my home. Our verdant forest green, Caressed by silvery stream; From mountain peak to fields of wheat. Washington, my home. This verse of “Washington My Home,” adopted as our state song in 1959, illustrates what so many Washingtonians picture about our home in the northwest corner of America. For those of us in the Okanogan Highlands, thinking of the “verdant forest green” is certainly true. For those of us in the Mid-Columbia south,...
“The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten,” President Calvin Coolidge said it well almost one hundred years ago. Friday is Veterans Day, when we as a nation honor those who have answered the call to defend our way of life. We exercise and enjoy our freedoms every day, and we owe special recognition of every American man and woman who has served in uniform. On Nov. 11, Veterans Day ceremonies will take place across the country. Citizens will gather in assembly to pay tribute to the memory and ser...
Remember this promise from President Obama to sell his signature health care law to the American people: If you like your health care plan, you can keep it. You might remember that it earned the distinction as PolitiFact’s “Lie of the Year” in 2013 after millions of Americans’ plans were cancelled. Even former President Bill Clinton recently called the Affordable Care Act (ACA) “the craziest thing in the world.” Broken promises have become the new normal with the ACA, and the people paying the price are regular Americans....
As a farmer and a student of American history, few things are as satisfying as wrapping up the last few weeks’ harvest at my family’s hop farm in Central Washington. Thomas Jefferson once wrote to John Adams in 1787: “I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries; as long as they are chiefly agricultural.” While I admit some bias, I tend to agree. 240 years into the experiment of American democracy, we enjoy the fruition of the efforts of citizen farmers such as Jefferson and Adams, who played prominent role...
The Internal Revenue Service is at it again, this time targeting farmers, ranchers, and other businesses operated by families. It may not be politically-motivated targeting, but the IRS is now pushing a new rule that would revise the valuation of family-operated businesses, resulting in a higher tax burden when a family member passes away. In Congress, I proudly voted to repeal the onerous death tax because I have seen firsthand that it prevents hardworking Americans from passing on the fruits of their labor to the next...
Two million lives. That is the number, according to the Charlotte Lozier Institute, of lives saved by the Hyde Amendment. Many Americans may not be familiar with the Hyde Amendment, named after the late Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL), and first enacted by Congress on Sept. 30, 1976. The Hyde Amendment, which must be renewed every year, prevents federal taxpayer dollars from paying for abortions, particularly through Medicaid. Last month was the 40th anniversary of this important piece of legislation, which has been passed by Congress...
I am convinced that there is a recurring “top-down” fever that strikes Washington, D.C., which gives rise to the idea that more government regulations are the answer to creating economic prosperity and supporting job growth. In reality, one-size-fits-all regulations often have unintended and damaging consequences to individuals, job creation, and the economy. According to the Competitive Enterprise Institute, regulations cost Americans $1.89 trillion in lost productivity and growth in 2015 alone. That enormous number is more...
In January of this year, four American citizens were released from Iranian custody in a prisoner swap that exchanged seven Iranians and removed 14 more Iranians from an international police watch list. At least, those were the details the White House made public at the time. Administration officials were quoted as saying the deal was “a one-time arrangement” and “not a precedent for the future.” The more we learn about the exchange, however, the more we find that the administration has not been up front about the deal, w...
For Americans, two dates in our history hold special meaning for our personal liberties and for limiting the power of the federal government. July 4 is universally known because of the date’s association with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Another foundational date that we just observed is Sept. 17, the day in 1787 when delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the Constitution, which lays out the structure and limits of our federal government. One of the provisions in the C...
One of the best aspects of representing Central Washington in Congress is meeting the young people of all ages who will become the leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. I recently visited the Boys and Girls Club in Moses Lake and a history class at Ellen Ochoa Middle School in Pasco, and after answering students’ many questions about Congress, I was filled with optimism when I caught a glimpse of our society’s future leaders. I also had the privilege of meeting Prosser Housel Middle School students competing in National His...
This summer, I have spoken with constituents across Central Washington, and many are rightly frustrated with the way federal agencies manage public lands. Almost one-third of our state is managed by the federal government. From wildfires to wildlife habitat to public access, federal policy can hinder or help our communities. Federal decision making has an enormous impact on the way these lands can be used, which in turn affects the economies of local rural communities. Washingtonians deserve a government that is more...
Anyone who has spent time in Central Washington knows the Columbia River is the defining natural feature of our region. As the largest river in the Western Hemisphere that flows into the Pacific Ocean, it has long guided the way of life for people living in the Pacific Northwest. From water storage and transportation to recreation, flood control, energy production, and wildlife habitat, our management of the Columbia River will continue to determine the economic future of our region. We share this magnificent resource with...
Throughout the August district work period, I have traveled throughout all eight counties of Washington’s Fourth District. I always get diverse questions from constituents on a range of topics, and I enjoy these conversations. I have heard from several constituents who shared their support for the dams on the Columbia and lower Snake rivers. I would like to take this opportunity to express my strong support for maintaining dams, which are so important for a host of reasons, including power generation, flood control, t...
Watching the Olympics has been exciting for millions of Americans who root on their fellow citizens to see if years of grueling training will pay off on the world stage. For the athletes who worked to earn gold, silver, and bronze medals, we can imagine a wave of personal fulfillment and pride from representing our country. For the less physically gifted of us, personal accomplishment will likely not come from an Olympic medal. What makes America unique is not that every one of us can vault or run or swim at impressive...
Theodore Roosevelt, who championed the cause of conservation during his presidency, once said, “Conservation means development as much as it does protection. I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful means, the generations that come after us.” We have a responsibility, not simply to preserve the natural world around us, but to improve the economic condition of the communities that depend on nat...
Dallas. Baton Rouge. In those two cities, eight police officers lost their lives after being targeted and ambushed in two separate attacks. Our nation has been stunned as law enforcement has also been targeted in shootings in Philadelphia, in St. Joseph, Michigan, in Tennessee, in Missouri, and in Georgia. Two officers were shot in San Diego just last week. We honor those in blue who lost their lives or were wounded while serving their communities. Wearing the badge is a risk they take every day to keep our families and loved...
Freedom of conscience and religious liberty have been bedrock principles of our republic since our founding. In 1809, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority.” Clearly, this freedom goes beyond simply protecting holding a belief in one’s own heart or merely thinking about a concept. It protects acting as well. If we are to continue to hold these constitutional freedoms, then we must...
I am a strong believer that the flurry of top-down rules from the federal government threatens job creation over the long run rather than empowering individuals or moving our economy forward. Last week, the House passed an important piece of legislation to promote responsible use of our natural resources and to reverse regulatory overreach by reining in the Environmental Protection Agency and bringing its staffing levels in line with 1989 levels. I supported passage of H.R. 5538, the Fiscal Year 2017 Department of Interior, E...