Opinion

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Mixed results as session ends

The 2024 legislative session is now in the history books. After 60 days, in which 201 House bills and 180 Senate bills passed the Legislature, we can report a mix of great successes and disappointments. We fought hard for public... — Updated 3/14/2024

 

Write to the Point

Congresswoman can influence Speaker Johnson Among Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers’s negative legacies she leaves, her most impactful may be on immigration. However, she still has time to improve that. Donald Trump cares... — Updated 3/14/2024

 

Tree farms reduce greenhouse gases

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 American Tree Farm program has emphasized... — Updated 3/14/2024

 
 By Joe Schmick    Opinion

Lawmakers should hear from voters on initiatives

It is with a mix of encouragement and disappointment that the Senate majority leader says four of the six citizen initiatives to the Legislature "might" have public hearings schedul... — Updated 3/8/2024

 
 By Judy Warnick    Opinion

Small, albeit 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 3/8/2024

 
 By Mike Padden    Opinion

I-2113 would make Washington safer

Among the many problems plaguing Washington now, crime is perhaps the greatest concern for citizens and communities throughout our state. In fact, we have reached a crisis point in... — Updated 3/8/2024

 
 By Don C. Brunell    Opinion

Tree farms reduce greenhouse gases

As climate change concerns grow, researchers are turning to family tree farmers for assistance. They have been helping for a century, but their efforts go unrecognized. The... — Updated 3/8/2024

 

Climate agenda may cost you more than $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 3/8/2024

 

Public records must open and accessible

A special report urges the mobilization of civic leaders, organizations, businesses and all residents to work together to save the state’s Public Records Act. The report is available online for viewing and downloading at washcog.... — Updated 3/7/2024

 
 By Roger Harnack    Opinion

Forest bill a welcome change

Funny how it took a move into the country before a Democrat would support efforts to clean up our forest floors. Last week, Senate Bill 6121 passed the Senate unanimously. The bill... — Updated 2/22/2024

 

Write to the Point

Make the public records ‘gotcha’ less lucrative I agree with Rep. Schmick, let’s take the “gotcha” out of public records requests. That can be done by helping jurisdictions with their filing system, not by prohibiting pub... — Updated 2/22/2024

 
 By Jeff Holy    Opinion

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, that was then… and this is now. Washington is now among the nation’s leaders in several crimes, includin... — Updated 2/15/2024

 

Write to the Point

We need to unite to tackle fentanyl As an emergency physician, I see too many patients and families destroyed fentanyl epidemic. This is a plague that we can only face united. Four decades ago, many dismissed the impact of... — Updated 2/15/2024

 

Write to the Point

Vote ‘yes’ on Cheney school measures The Cheney School District is asking voters to support students by passing three separate financial initiatives. As a retired grandmother, I sought to understand why we needed to see a levy... — Updated 2/8/2024

 
 By Joe Schmick    Opinion

Taking the 'Gotcha!' out of public records requests

When Washington’s voters adopted the state’s Public Records Act under Initiative 276 in 1972, they wanted to make sure that state, county, and city governments operate openly... — Updated 2/8/2024

 
 By Matt Boehnke    Opinion

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, cost-effective, and environmentally sound power... — Updated 2/8/2024

 

Write to the Point

Watch your language on climate change As climate disruption becomes more evident, more people are empowered to advocate for climate mitigation. This advocacy is positive, but climate advocates must choose their words carefully for... — Updated 2/1/2024

 
 By Don C. Brunell    Opinion

Recycling EV batteries a Herculean 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 2/1/2024

 
 By Roger Harnack    Opinion

State parks failing at Palouse Falls, Lyons Ferry

Two years ago, Washington State Parks bureaucrats in Tumwater hatched a plan to address so-called “overcrowding” at Palouse Falls. The plan was to close and relocate the... — Updated 2/1/2024

 
 By Mark Schoesler    Opinion

Democrats push massive property-tax increase

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 the state is already collecting from you and other... — Updated 2/1/2024

 

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 the state is already collecting from you and other... — Updated 1/26/2024

 

State's new energy policies enact great expense

“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 optimist and author Marion L. Tupy. Headlines of... — Updated 1/26/2024

 

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 protecting livestock from wolf predation – seeks... — Updated 1/18/2024

 

Secret dam pact should be aired thoroughly, publicly

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 all. It is time to assess how it might work in the r... — Updated 1/18/2024

 

Write to the Point

Vote ‘Yes’ and support Cheney schools Feb. 13 During the February election, the Cheney School District is asking voters to consider three ballot measures, including replacement Education Programs and Operations and Capital... — Updated 1/18/2024

 

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