I recently received a mailer from our Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, patting herself on the back for backing legislation that would prevent the EPA from charging me $270,000 if they found mud puddles on my property. (Her words are ditches or standing water.) I know had anyone in Clark County been assessed this fee The Columbian would have reported it and all of our citizens would be outraged. Having not heard of this fee I responded to my representative, questioning this being her landmark work in the last legislative session and perhaps there were more important issues she could be working on.
I received a letter this week thanking me for contacting her and again pointing out that this is the most important issue facing us in Clark County and that she is saving me from the EPA charging me $270,000 for any mud puddles that crop up on my property. I did not expect her to read my email, but you would think that if staff are going to respond to an email they might want to read it.
She was the best choice for my vote this fall, but I am really having to rethink that if she truly believes that this legislation is her high-water mark of the last two years.
Rob Gimlin
Vancouver
