Legislators got it right
As Washington state struggles to pull out of the recession, our elected officials in Olympia faced one of the most difficult legislative sessions in decades. Legislators had two choices: cut $2.8 billion from the state’s budget, decimating health care, education, and other core services; or balance the budget through targeted cuts, closing tax loopholes and new revenues. They chose the balanced approach, raising new revenues while making difficult cuts.
If the legislature hadn’t raised revenue, nearly all state health care services for low-income people would have been eliminated. Community health clinics would have closed. Health care workers would have lost their jobs and the growing number of uninsured people in our state would have sought care in expensive hospital emergency rooms.
Because of the tough choices made by state leaders, more than 100,000 Washingtonians will keep their health coverage through programs like Basic Health and Apple Health for Kids. This equates to supporting vital safety nets such as community health clinics. Perhaps most importantly, our legislators put Washington state at the front of the line to partner with the federal government on health care reform. Our state’s Basic Health Plan is built into the health care reform law as a national model.
Carrie Vanzant
Vancouver
Library’s financial picture clarified
In his May 15 letter, “Library asks for more at wrong time,” Don Higgins used several dollar figures to support his opposition to Fort Vancouver Regional Library District’s Aug. 17 levy measure. The figures he used do not reflect FVRL’s true financial position. As executive director of the library district, I would like to clarify the situation.
Due to severe revenue reductions, FVRL cut 10 percent of its staff positions (24 positions) in 2009, causing the closure of our seven largest branches an extra day per week. We made numerous other cuts as well. If the Aug. 17 measure succeeds, we will be able to restore those lost hours, restore our book budget to a level that meets demand, and forestall further cuts.
Why ask voters now? Public library resources are being stretched thin during hard economic times, as more and more people access the library’s no-fee Internet and Wi-Fi services, borrow instead of purchase books, and use résumé-writing software and attend library classes to help them in their job searching.
The library’s board of trustees felt it was important to allow the public to decide whether to restore library funding and head off additional cuts. Aug. 17 will be your chance to participate in this important decision about your public libraries.
Bruce Ziegman
Vancouver
Reinforce debt owed to vets
Every year, I take my young son to the military cemetery to help place flags. Rain or shine, he knows this is what we do. The simple repetitive act of placing flags for a few hours serves to reinforce that the freedom we enjoy every moment of our lives is far from free. The cost that others pay in blood, sweat, tears, anguish, fear, and anger so that my son and I can live every day as we wish cannot be calculated, but it is a cost which is constantly levied, and must be paid.
The price of freedom is never paid in full. I hope a simple annual act will serve to reinforce to my son the debt of gratitude we owe to those, as George Orwell described them, “rough men who stand ready to do violence on our behalf,” and appreciate their phenomenally selfless acts. May God bless and watch over all of America’s warriors.
Paul Bate
Vancouver
Fireworks are mainstay of celebration
I am the proud parent of a graduating senior from Evergreen High School. Our family lives just east of Evergreen High School and McKenzie Stadium. And let me unequivocally say: I love the fireworks at graduation.
My son, a graduating senior, has never in his life known anything different in June. When we hear the sound of the graduation fireworks, it makes us feel proud and hopeful. Proud because some of those kids were my husband’s students or mine. Hopeful, because each night of fireworks represents hundreds of young people who have succeeded in their education.
Let me say it again, the fireworks celebrate the success of hundreds of young people. Including, this year, my son and his friends.
Not everyone can go to the baccalaureate service we have planned, not everyone can go to the drug- and alcohol-free graduation party we throw for the kids, but everyone can thrill to the bang and flash of the celebration fireworks.
And every penny for the baccalaureate service, party, and fireworks was fundraised. Not one district dollar is spent on the fireworks.
Kellie Kutkey
Vancouver
Reexamine funding for Israel
I write with grief and outrage. Israel has killed at least 9 passengers in an overnight attack on six ships carrying 700 international human rights supporters and desperately needed supplies to Gaza (June 1 Columbian story, “Israeli raid on flotilla leaves 9 dead”). Just another deadly escalation of Israel’s harsh repression of nonviolent protests against the occupation, paid with American tax dollars. The assault again spotlights Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza and its consistent use of violence against civilians, Palestinian and now international.
It is past time that the United States reconsider its unconditional support of Israel. Demand an immediate lifting of the siege of Gaza, and an international investigation into the tragic killing of civilians on a humanitarian mission. End military aid to Israel and sanction Israel until there is an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian land in the West Bank and the Israeli blockade of Gaza. The illegal Israeli occupation is the fundamental injustice that fuels this conflict.
Diane Adkin
Camas
Divide the sidewalks
I enjoyed what Toni Smith wrote about move on or get out of the way, in the May 21 letter, “Move out of chaos you’re creating.” I’d like to add to Smith’s message what was suggested in an article recently written about such a chaos in New York City — the battle with the city residents having to deal with the hold-up between the tourist and the city folks. The tourists are in no hurry and stand there in the middle of sidewalks gawking up at the skyscrapers while the residents want to hurry along.
The solution suggested: Paint on the outer walkway labeled for “New Yorkers” to hurry along their way — and on the inside walkway, paint for the “Tourists” to tarry if they may. (A prankster recently painted a dividing line down a Fifth Avenue sidewalk.) But it works only if the people follow the signs and read the directions.
Lucille Deslandes
Vancouver
