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Moscow on the Potomac
It seems we may soon have to change the name of Washington D.C. to Moscow on the Potomac.
-Steve Bennett Newport
Grateful for contact with Baumgartner’s office staff
On Tuesday, March 4 a small group from Newport and Deer Park visited Congressman Baumgartner’s office in Spokane. Our goal was to raise awareness about local needs and express concerns by hand-delivering letters to the Congressman’s office. Upon arrival, the glass door to the office was locked however a staff person answered, acknowledged that it is a long drive from Newport, and invited us to sit down and talk for a while. The staff person noted that it was their job to listen and that this type of meeting occurs regularly on Mondays.
We shared a variety of concerns such as government overreach, infringements on constitutional rights, invasion of privacy with DOGE investigations, billionaire Elon Musk’s involvement at all, cuts to Veteran’s Affairs and other Federal jobs and Baumgartner’s vote for the federal budget that includes cuts to Medicaid and tax cuts for the wealthy. Concern was noted that 30% of people in our district are on Medicaid and that most people in our communities will not benefit from tax cuts for the wealthy.
It felt good speak up! It is easy to feel disconnected from government decisions and feel like our representatives are unreachable; many problems we face seem overwhelming so it was good to talk with someone in-person. We were grateful for the in person meeting and Congressman Baumgartner works for us; it is his job to know how life is going for us and speak on our behalf.
Baumgartner’s Spokane office number is 509-353-2374 and his Spokane office is located at 528 E.
Spokane Falls Blvd. #115 in the Schade Building.
-Kaarsten Furman Newport
Should be an interesting four years
Responding to some of my friends’ letters from last week...
Generally speaking I believe that those in the psychiatric profession are looking forward to increasing their business. Not just locally, but nationally. Many citizens that “live left of center” are complaining about cutting government spending, firing government employees that don’t want to return to the office and be held accountable. They are angry that funds and agencies will be cut.
They say don’t fire the inspector generals.
It is their job to oversee agencies and programs for waste, fraud and inefficiency.
Maybe if they had done their job they wouldn’t have been let go.
Now back to my neighbors such as Positive Pete. I think he is a pessimist, but he is positive that his conspiracy theories will come about. Then comes hair on fire Jeannie.
She said that she herself was not a genius. That is the only point I can agree with her on. As for the others, just a reminder who won the Presidential election. Trump did not elect himself. Seventy six percent of those polled after his recent speech to Congress approved of what he is doing for the country. TDS can’t be cured without an open mind. Yes, it will be an interesting four years.
K C Hunt Newport
Dems on the wrong side
During the election campaign and since the election of Donald Trump as President, the Democratic leadership has been on the wrong side of every issue. They are for boys in girls’ bathrooms, boys in girls’ sports, sex changes for adolescents and for tampons in boy’s bathroom.
They are for schools withholding critical information from parents even if the child was involved in a violent act, even after Washington voters voting against it. They are against deporting violent criminal illegal aliens. They are against curbing government waste. They are against controlling illegal immigration and deporting violent criminals who are here illegally.
They are against peace in Ukraine with Democratic Senator Chris Murphy encouraging Zelensky to not sign any deal that President Trump proposed. Their Trump Derangement Syndrome won’t allow them to let Trump have any success, even if it means an end to war in Ukraine.
They slam Elon Musk because he is rich but are happy to take money from their ultra-rich guy, George Soros. The Democrats cry tears when one government employee loses their jobs, but no tears shed when all the pipeline workers lost their jobs when Biden shut down the pipeline.
Even though polls continue to show Democrats are on the wrong side of these issues, they continue to be on the wrong side. Keep it up.
-LeRoy Leland Diamond Lake
Trump wants chaos
I have a theory for Trump’s wrecking ball firings and defunding’s. First, he and his co-president Musk charge into a government department or agency and withdraw a sizable portion of its funding. Then thousands of employees of this department or agency get an email which casts doubt on their competency and tells them that they are immediately fired.
Chaos ensues.
In the next phase, after the public outcry, some of the people are told they will be rehired and/or some of the funds are reinstated. And the reaction from the public is, “Oh, thank you Mr. Trump. It is so good of you to do this.”
One result of this pattern is some form of financial savings which will help to offset the proposed tax cut for the wealthiest Americans.
Another result is that by creating a panic and then reducing its effects, Trump comes out the hero. Most important for us is that the function of the department or agency is severely compromised long term. In fact, it may be so severely compromised that Republican lawmakers will point out that it is incapable of preforming its function and should be placed in private hands. Think Social Security.
Following this pattern, the call for surgical cuts in the name of efficiency are irrelevant. The integrity of any department is left in shreds, and King Trump has proven, over and over, that he is, well, King. It is up to us to see this for what it is and figure out how to interrupt the process. I wish I had that answer.
Martha Nichols Newport
Women’s fight for rights
A bill passed the House and went to the Senate for a vote. It would have codified keeping men out of women’s sports. Not one Democrat voted to protect women’s rights.
Don’t any of them have daughters or nieces? It fell short of the 60 votes needed. Recent polls show that 82% of Americans want men out of women’s sports, 67% Democrats.
Trump gave his first speech to a Joint Session of Congress. His speech was reported as maybe his best yet.
It began with ‘America is Back!’
There were 95 standing ovations in the 100 plus minute speech. A CBS poll showed 76% approval and CNN at 69%.
What I found interesting was out of all the ovations, the elected Democrats only clapped for one. What they didn’t stand for was women, fighting crime, securing the border and peace. They didn’t stand for the heros that Trump introduced nor cutting taxes, no tax on tips, overtime or social security. Patel and Bondi extradited a terrorist from Pakistan that was the mastermind of the Afghan withdrawal mess.
Democrat silence.
The only thing the Democrats clapped for was the $350B sent to Ukraine and for continuing that war. They didn’t stand for humanity, law enforcement or our military. Illegals committing crimes including murdering Americans and killers brought to justice? Silence. They sat with their little protest signs and scowled. We may have lost all decorum in our country.
It appeared their dislike for Trump seemed greater than their love for America. A recent poll showed 68% disapprove of the way the Dem’s are doing their jobs. Any left of center having second thoughts? Take a couple of steps to the right, we have room. Common sense. Put Americans/ women first.
Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick
Worried
The $1.5 trillion goal of cutting spending over the next 10 years, “the big beautiful bill,” will not be accomplished unless there are cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. This is per the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. More than 60 million Americans rely on these programs for medical coverage, retirement security, survivor benefits and unemployment caused by disability. The legislation to accomplish this spending cut was recently passed by the House under budget reconciliation. Our Congressman Baumgartner vote Yea on this legislation.
I have a family member who relies on Social Security Disability and Medicaid. He is an amputee, uses a wheelchair and with other medical issues, unable to obtain employment. If benefits are cut or eliminated, he could lose his residence of over 10 years and required medical services. With the proposed cuts under the Trump led administration this is a reality. He is worried. He paid into Social Security, Medicare and his share of income taxes for over 40 years of employment.
Do you, family members or friends have the same potential loss of benefits? Think about it.
Robert W. Schutte Newport
Musk like a terrorist
During my career I worked for state and county governments for around three years. The rest was as a federal government contractor. We always faced layoffs and funding issues which were addressed over months and years by lowering labor costs and innovation.
In contrast, the few weeks of firings and program cancellations by DOGE/Elon Musk remind me of the suicide bombers in Iraq. Musk conducts his efforts like a terrorist. Instead of terrorists firing their guns into the air, Musk waves a chainsaw and screams. His misplaced joy is like torturing defenseless animals. Trump called federal workers vermin and enemies of the state. Musk sees everyone working for the federal government as guilty of fraud, waste and abuse.
The fired workers get no notice or due process. Musk fires them by email on a Sunday. He makes them disappear on their computer network like a murderer disposes of a body.
Someone needs to ask Musk how many of the fired public servants have been hired to work for his companies that are funded by his federal government contracts.
I appeal to our Trumpers and Muskers to defend and justify the firing with malice and glee of U.S. citizen public servants who are veterans. Musk is firing the Veterans Administration and Social Security employees that service veterans and seniors. Musk has fired the feds who would respond to a pandemic. He will save Social Security by allowing another pandemic to kill millions of seniors.
How does moving thousands of government workers to unemployment and welfare programs save money? I don’t think any of them are going to lay eggs for you to buy at the grocery store. Measles is coming to infect your kids, and the bird flu is crossing over to humans. Musk will jump for joy with his chainsaw.
Pete Scobby Newport
