COMMUNITY EVENT SPOTLIGHT: LIV FINNE IN SJC, MAY 10

Education Policy is something that I can’t pretend to know a great deal about. I don’t have kids, and it’s something that I don’t feel splits well along party lines. It is, however, something that matters a great deal, and I would like to learn more.

A group of local civics education advocates got together and invited Liv Finne to come to the island. She said yes!

This event is not sponsored by the Republican party. The following is from that group’s description:

MAY 10 – FREE
Liv Finne of Washington Policy Institute will provide an update on the “State of Education in the State of Washington”

She will describe policies that improve student learning by expanding school choice, including Running Start, public charter schools, online schools, and vouchers or tax credits to attend private school.

Location:  American Legion basement
Time:  5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Light Refreshments Served.

LOCAL NEWS DIGEST

Even after almost a month, there was really not a large political news backlog for the island. I don’t include crime or other news generally.

The SJI School District Superintendent is leaving (speaking of education!): “San Juan Island School District superintendent announces departure” (Journal)

• “San Juan Island School District schedules community budget workshop” (Journal)

Journal: Around Town | Updates on Friday Harbor roundabout, land bank purchases, San Juan Island’s sixth-grade move, and more

“Port of Friday Harbor commissioners approve Jensen shipyard purchase” (Journal)

• “FH Port Holds Hearing & Purchases Jensen Shipyard, But Few Show Up” (Island Guardian)

“San Juan Island fire, hospital districts talk EMS merger in first public meeting” (Journal) (I neither endorse nor condemn this article, I am simply reporting it)

• “Fire District & EMTs Mangement Will Form Committee To Explore Merger” (Island Guardian)

On Orcas/Lopez — “Why it may take longer for your next hospital or clinic visit” (Sounder, Islander)

There are a number of letters to the editors and editorials on the proposed Public Hospital District for Orcas. I recommend just searching the opinion pages, I generally don’t post opinion links.

Alcohol continues to be the drug of choice for teens” (Islands’ Weekly)

“New Washington state laws to impact San Juan County” (Islands’ Weekly)

“Puget Sound officially designated No Discharge Zone” (Island Guardian)

“Salmon Fishing Season Set – But No Restocking For Cooke.” (Island Guardian)

There is a SJI cleanup on April 22nd, you can read about it here. Read about the Orcas event here.

“Help Washington State Ferries create long-term plan at Friday Harbor open house” on April 22 (Journal)

Lincoln Day is just about here!

To be totally frank, I have no idea how we managed to snag two guests so distinguished: WA State Senator Doug Ericksen, and David Dewhirst, Chief Litigator for the Freedom Foundation. Both this year and last we have been extremely fortunate. It is therefore no suprise that tickets are very nearly sold out.

All of the details about the events are posted on our website here.

CHAIRMAN OF WSRP RESIGNS

Susan Hutchison is stepping down as Chairman of the Washington State Republican Party (WSRP), read the press release here. She announced it on January 2nd, and it is effective Feb 4th, 2018.

She said: “The WSRP is in a robust financial position with a bright future. I expect that 2018 will result in many exciting wins for the GOP in our state—among them, Dino Rossi will hold the 8th Congressional seat, the Republicans will move into leadership in the State House of Representatives by flipping at least one seat, and there might even be some surprises in the State Senate.”

LOCAL NEWS DIGEST

Judge Eaton Retires (Journal), and Loring sworn in as San Juan County Superior Court Judge. (Journal)

“Public hospital district appoints interim chief, against EMS staff recommendations.” (Journal)

Sheriff Ron Krebs Spread ‘Stand Up’ message. (Journal)

“Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, announced new legislation to protect Washington state’s Orca Whales and marine waters under the Salish Sea Protection package.” (Journal)

• “NOAA says vessel rules are a win for orcas and whale watch boaters.” (Journal)
• “Ranker unveils ambitious plan to protect Salish Sea.” (Sounder)

“San Juan Island School District meetings recap.” (Journal)

“The year ahead: A conversation with Councilman Rick Hughes.” (Journal or Sounder)

“Washington State Ferries management in San Juans.” (Guest Column in the Journal)

“Second public hospital district [on Orcas] town hall held.” (Sounder)

“Lopez public hospital district hires Orcas resident to be superintendent.” (Sounder)

“OPALCO unites with regional co-op.” (Islands Weekly)

“Vacancies for San Juan County boards and commissions.” (Islands Weekly)

Friends of the San Juans published an article in the Islands Weekly, “Friends appeals the Shoreline Master Program.”

STATE NEWS DIGEST

“‘Faithless’ electors $1,000 fines upheld.” (The Spokesman Review) YES!!

“Commissioner Franz statement on governor’s carbon proposal.” (Sounder)

• The conservative Washington Policy Center describes it as “Governor’s Carbon/Gas Tax: 20 cents a gallon & lots of subsidies.”
• “Inslee to propose Washington carbon tax” (Capital Press, from mid Dec.)

“Legislature will re-attempt their New Year’s resolution by delivering Hirst Fix.” (Washington Policy Center)

• “Hirst Fix Remains a Priority for Lawmakers.” (Columbia Basin Herald)

“Four storylines to watch in Olympia during the 2018 legislative session.” (The NewsTribune)

“Washington DOH adds a third option to birth certificates.” (Journal)

The Trump administration is opening offshore areas for drilling in the Northwest. You can read about it in the Seattle Times or KOMO News 4. Another article in the Seattle Times here.

Seattle Times on sex education: “To prevent sexual violence, educators and activists say students need to look at root causes — and that sometimes means having uncomfortable classroom conversations about consent.”

Fractured West: In Oregon and elsewhere, rural residents increasingly balk at Democrats’ progressive governance. (City Journal)

Federal DOJ announces that it will no longer allow states to set policy on Marijuana that conflicts with State law.

• You can watch Fox News discuss it here.
• Seattle Times: “‘An attack on Seattle’: Washington state officials say they won’t back down on legal pot as Sessions rescinds Obama-era policy.”
• King 5 News: “Justice Department ending federal policy that let legal pot flourish.”
• Sequim Gazette: “Peninsula pot shop owners take wait-and-see stance after federal policy change.”
• Sessions did not outline any new enforcement priorities, and seemed to indicate that U.S. Attorneys now have discretion to prosecute marijuana crimes as they see fit. (text from Seattle Times article)

Some Democrats and Republicans have been trying to shut down Atlantic fish farming after the release of the farmed salmon (branded “Atlantic Salmon”) over the summer.

• “Escaped Atlantic salmon found 42 miles up Skagit River.” (Seattle Times)
• “Puget Sound fish farmers say banning Atlantic salmon operations would be unfair.” (Seattle Times)
• “Lawmakers consider bill to ban commercial net pens for fish farms after massive spill.” (KOMO 4)
• Journal: “Cooke fined for water quality violations at Bainbridge Island net pen facility.”
• Note also the article on Kevin Ranker above.

“Behind Seattle’s government spending spree: a deluge of taxes, six-figure pay and officials eager to do more.” (Seattle Times)

• Summary: Over the past five years, the cost of Seattle’s government has grown faster than almost any other major U.S. city, propelled by surging tax collections and a scope of government services that has expanded faster than Seattle’s population. So far, it’s mostly been supported by taxpayers, whose willingness to pay up has contributed to a 35 percent surge in tax revenue. But our tolerance for ever-increasing taxes may be at its limit. “So much of the city’s revenue thirst has been quenched with taxes that aren’t necessarily sustainable…”

Bob Ferguson, our trigger happy WA State Attorney General is in the news a lot. Really. Just recently:

• “Washington state AG Bob Ferguson says he’ll sue over FCC’s net-neutrality repeal.” (Seattle Times)
• “Washington AG sues Value Village, claiming thrift-shop chain isn’t as charitable as it seems.” (Seattle Times)
• “Value Village sues Washington attorney general, fighting a demand for millions to settle investigation.” (Seattle Times)
• He’s also suing Motel 6 for cooperating with ICE (USA Today). Setting aside whether ICE should have asked them to do so which is something seperate, witness the specticle of one government agency (WA AG office) suing a company for cooperating with another government agency (ICE). That’s just immoral. He should sue ICE if he believes he has a case — and maybe Motel 6 shouldn’t have done what they did. But should I not cooperate with the FBI because I’m scared Bob Ferguson will sue me?
• This guy is more active than Governor Inslee. “With a growing number ofWashington adults owing money on student loans, state Attorney General Bob Ferguson wants new legislation to license and regulate student-loan servicers.” (Seattle Times)
• Not everything he does is bad (though the vast majority is), but he is the most political state AG I can recall — he is more political than the governor. And that is not acceptable for an attorney general.