Opinion / Guest Column
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 255
Tree farms are part of climate solution
As climate change concerns grow, researchers are turning to family tree farmers for assistance. They have been helping for a century, but their efforts have gone unrecognized. The... — Updated 3/12/2024
'Climate agenda' to cost you $20,000
Eleven years ago, when we started debating the climate agenda in Olympia, I sat on a study committee we called the Climate Legislative Executive Workgroup and asked an unpopular... — Updated 3/5/2024
Beef cow type, then and now, Part 2
Welcome to 2024! Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday that I was thinking that graduating from high school in 1977 would be an eternity in the future. Now I appreciate... — Updated 3/5/2024
Small, but impactful wins
Let me begin with some political realities about your state Legislature. Republicans, and I am one, are in the minority. The Senate Republican Caucus, of which I am the chairwoman,... — Updated 2/27/2024
Cleansing sewage essential to water
In Washington, this year we hope to again escape the historic droughts plaguing other parts of the world. The Columbia River water system flowed at normal levels in recent years... — Updated 2/20/2024
State needs more law officers
There was a time many years ago when our state was generally safe and did not have a serious crime problem. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, that was then and this is now.... — Updated 2/13/2024
California too costly for our economy
Several days ago, the Wall Street Journal issued a report about California’s “soaring electricity rates.” Average residential rates for investor-owned utility customers have... — Updated 2/13/2024
Charting a Sustainable Energy Future
As Washington stands at a pivotal moment in shaping its energy future, it becomes increasingly clear that adopting sensible, forward-thinking solutions is crucial for a reliable,... — Updated 2/6/2024
Take 'Gotcha!' out of records requests
When state voters adopted the state’s Public Records Act in 1972, they wanted to make sure state, county and city governments operate openly and are transparent to the people.... — Updated 2/6/2024
Recycling EV batteries a huge effort
Each year Americans throw away more than three billion batteries constituting 180,000 tons of hazardous material. The situation is likely to get worse as the world shifts to lithium... — Updated 1/30/2024
State's energy policies costly
“The possibility of a global environmental apocalypse has been dominating headlines and exercises a powerful hold on the imaginations of millions of people,” according to... — Updated 1/23/2024
Democrats push tax hike bill
It seems like every year the Democrats, who have voting majorities in the Senate and House, in Olympia introduce legislation to raise or create taxes, no matter how much revenue... — Updated 1/23/2024
New recourse against wolves
There are at least 216 gray wolves in 37 packs in our state. Thirty-one of those gray wolf packs are in North-Central and Northeastern Washington. Senate Bill 5939 – relating to... — Updated 1/16/2024
Expose dam plan to reality
The $33 billion secret Snake River Dam plan that President Biden and friends cooked up in the White House basement needs to be exposed to the light of day and thoroughly aired by... — Updated 1/16/2024
Legislative priorities this year
Monday featured opening-day ceremonies in the Senate and House chambers, followed by a joint legislative session in the House chamber on Tuesday for Gov. (Jay) Inslee’s final... — Updated 1/9/2024
Military money is Golden Egg
Aesop’s fable warns against killing the goose laying golden eggs. The tale’s origins date to 600 B.C. and tells of the greedy farmer who foolishly killed the prized goose to... — Updated 1/9/2024
Dairy farmers push cow power
In the 1990s, “things go better with Coca Cola” was the catchy slogan dairy farmers dreaded. At the time, milk producers were in a head-to-head battle with soft drink giants... — Updated 1/2/2024
Put gas money back in pocket
On Tuesday, Rep. April Connors, R-Kennewick, and I introduced House Bill 2040, also known as the Carbon Auction Rebate program. The bill seeks to provide rebates to Washington... — Updated 1/2/2024
Beef cow type: Then and now
This month’s article isn’t so much a Mythbuster, but a retrospective on where we’ve been with cow type and the implications of the changes over time. As I write these lines... — Updated 12/26/2023
Natural gas code violates state law
Washington’s State Building Code Council has once again adopted rules designed to eliminate natural gas energy for new residential and commercial construction. The original propos... — Updated 12/26/2023
A policy wish list for Santa, lawmakers
With shopping behind us, it is time o turn to Santa for those final Christmas presents on our wish list. After comparing the options and reviewing the data on which ones will help... — Updated 12/19/2023
Expand school choice options
School choice programs give families between $4,000 and $8,000 per student to cover the cost of private education. These programs provide families public assistance to select a... — Updated 12/12/2023
Finding the power for Christmas lights
It is that time of year when people put up their outside holiday lights and displays. Judging from our neighborhood they are decorating more than usual. In our country 90 percent... — Updated 12/12/2023
What do we have to lose?
We had a great crop of apples this year and more pumpkins than we could give away. Blackberries from the Westside and home canned cherries from early summer and have we got our pies... — Updated 11/28/2023
Making their way to America
As we prepare for the upcoming holidays, we must be grateful for what we have and focus on our needs rather than fixate on what we want and crave. Being thankful starts with an... — Updated 11/20/2023