Politics drives farm bill policy
Farm subsidies are necessary at times, but the broad use in proposed legislation is too much.
The U.S. farm subsidy program can be an important tool in stabilizing crop prices and ensuring a consistent food supply. The federal program began in the midst of the Great Depression as a way to get food in bellies and improve the economy.
Internships can benefit employee and employer
Some unpaid interns are exploited as free labor by large and small businesses, and that’s wrong. But other interns — perhaps the majority — work for no pay (or meager pay) to gain valuable on-the-job training, experience and, often, credits for high school or college.
USPS needs Congress to level its playing field
The Postal Service is losing money. It can’t continue to operate without cuts or more revenue.
Keeping the U.S. Postal Service in a political vise — squeezed between Democrats and Republicans — is ridiculous.
Effort to get reliable input on new Wa-Hi plan is wise
The school district is conducting a telephone survey through WSU that should provide a clear picture of what the community wants in renovating Wa-Hi.
Did School District officials have a clear sense of what the public was willing to fund when a $69.6 million plan to overhaul Walla Walla High School was proposed?
City decision to fund electrical work could have a political cost
This week’s decision by the Walla Walla City Council to use $66,000 from the $11.6 million police station bond fund for an electrical upgrade to City Hall can be justified. After all, the expenditure is less than six thousands of one percent (0.006) and will be used for doing a project that’s necessary and reasonable.
Lawmakers must focus on budget — nothing else
If a budget isn’t approved by July 1, technically the state won’t have enough money to operate. Realistically, it will be a mess.
The state Legislature started its second overtime session on Wednesday, less than three weeks from budget doomsday (or, without the hyperbole of Olympia, expensive government chaos).
Cleanup delays at Hanford can't go on
The federal government last week gave state officials notification it might (as in likely) miss two cleanup deadlines at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
Lawmakers shouldn't pass buck to voters
Look up “Legislature” in a Google search (or, old school, in a dictionary) and it is defined something like this: A deliberative body of elected people empowered to make, change or repeal the laws the state.
Is US really spying on citizens?
President Obama says no, but his denial doesn’t seem as convincing as the information reported by two newspapers.
The U.S. government’s covert efforts are supposed to be protecting the freedom of its citizens from terrorists or other nations.
No excuse for lavish spending by IRS officials
Congress is holding hearings on $49 million spent on a good time for IRS employees.
Congress is investigating $49 million in spending by the Internal Revenue Service on lavish conferences for employees between 2010 and 2012.
