Press release issued 1/ 4/ 18 (link source)
Gov. Jay Inslee issued the following statement today upon news that the U.S. Department of Justice would announce its decision to rescind the Cole Memorandum that has allowed Washington and other states to implement common-sense marijuana laws:
“If news reports are accurate, today’s forthcoming announcement from Attorney General Sessions is the wrong direction for our state. It is also disrespects Washington voters who have chosen a different path for our state. I am especially frustrated that this announcement comes after Sessions has refused offers from Attorney General Ferguson and myself to meet with him to discuss these policies in person, after he has disregarded the input that we and other state leaders have provided to his department.
“In Washington state we have put in place a system in place that adheres to what we pledged to the people of Washington and the federal government; it’s well regulated, keeps criminal elements out, keeps pot out of the hands of kids and tracks it all carefully enough to clamp down on cross-border leakage. We are going to keep doing that and overseeing the well-regulated market that Washington voters approved.
“Make no mistake: As we have told the Department of Justice ever since I-502 was passed in 2012, we will vigorously defend our state’s laws against undue federal infringement.”
Last year Inslee and Ferguson wrote to Attorney General Sessions urging him to respect Washington state’s marijuana laws, and offering to meet with him to discuss federal treatment of marijuana laws. Inslee also joined with the governors of Alaska, Colorado in Oregon in sending another letter to Sessions and U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin telling them to retain the Cole Memo and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) guidance that respects state marijuana systems.
Kilmer Statement on Reports That Justice Department Will Rescind Cole Memo
Press release issued 1/ 4/ 18 (link source)TACOMA, Wash. – Today, following news reports that the United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions plans to direct the US Department of Justice to rescind the Cole Memorandum, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) issued the following statement:
“This action by Attorney General Sessions would silence the voices of the majority of Washington state’s voters. No matter how you feel about the legalization of marijuana, this decision by the federal government to meddle in a state issue settled by public referendum is particularly troubling and would create tremendous uncertainty. It’s the wrong decision and is in direct conflict with the Attorney General’s long career of advocating for more autonomy for state and local governments.”
Senator Murray Statement on Attorney General Jeff Sessions Ending Common Sense Approach to Legalized Marijuana
Press release issued 1/ 4/ 18 (link source)Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced he rescinded the Cole Memorandum, an Obama Administration directive that allowed states such as Washington to decide how to regulate the use of marijuana.
“Today’s announcement is just the latest example of President Trump and members of his Administration breaking their promises and trying to jam through an ideological agenda that would be deeply damaging to people in Washington state and across the country.
“When it comes to the legal, adult use of marijuana, the voters in my home state of Washington, and in many other states, have spoken clearly. In the years since, Washington state has created a well-regulated system that works for families and communities, and I have supported policies at the federal level that provide clarity, stability, and security for consumers, regulators, business owners, banks, and credit unions. This latest move from the Trump Administration and Attorney General Sessions only makes our work to provide clarity at the federal level that much more urgent, and I intend to keep fighting to make sure Washington state is able to continue carrying out the will of its voters.”
New year brings new opportunities for inmates released in Seattle
Sec. of State press release issued 1/2/ 18 (link source)OLYMPIA – A new partnership between the Washington State Library (WSL) and The Seattle Public Library (SPL) grants inmates a library card before they’re released to the Seattle area. Now, the first inmates to take advantage of this opportunity – two men soon to be released from the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton – won’t face the stigma of announcing at the library counter that they’re in need of post-incarceration resources.
This groundbreaking arrangement has multiple positive outcomes,” said State Librarian Cindy Aden. “Inmates with easier access to resources have a lower risk of returning to the lifestyle that got them locked up in the first place, giving them a better chance at successful reintegration while also keeping our communities safer.”
Under the terms of the agreement, inmates being released to Seattle from state correctional institutions can get a card from SPL before they even leave prison. WSL already provides classes and workshops to inmates prior to their release. A similar partnership has also recently been formed between the State Library and The Spokane Public Library.
The first statewide recipient of a library card under these partnerships was an inmate released from the Washington Corrections Center for Women to Spokane in December. The State Library, a division of the Office of Secretary of State, operates the institutional libraries found in state correctional facilities and hospitals.
Washington’s Office of Secretary of State oversees a number of areas within state government, including managing state elections, regulating corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office also manages the State Archives as well as documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington.
Senator Murray Statement on Trump Administration’s Efforts to Expand Offshore Oil Drilling in U.S. Coastal Waters
Press release issued 1/ 4/ 18 (link source)(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced plans to draft and implement new oil and gas leasing guidelines that would expand access to offshore drilling in nearly all of the United States’ continental waters, including coastal waters in Washington state.
“The Trump Administration’s effort to open up areas off the Washington coast and elsewhere to drilling is outrageous and wrong, and once again demonstrates exactly what this Administration stands for: Big Oil and the relentless pursuit of profit, no matter what it may mean for our environment, public health, economy, or the many, many people who want their pristine coasts preserved. The Trump Administration’s move is especially egregious given the years of fact-finding and public input that already established the need to protect ecologically-sensitive areas. I urge people across this country to make their voices heard—again—to make sure this Administration backs down from this short-sighted proposal.”
One year ago, Sen. Murray introduced legislation to permanently prohibit offshore drilling on the outer continental shelf off of Washington, Oregon, and California.
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS HIGHLIGHTS
Clallam County Work Session agenda1) Letter to the Washington State Legislature in support of the William Shore Pool District’s request for funding
The Board of Clallam County Commissioners is writing this letter in strong support of the William Shore Pool District's.request for funding through the Washington State Legislature for the upcomíng expansion of the William Shore Pool. While this project will increase capacity of the facility it will also spur community revitalization and economic investment in a key district that has been identified by the city.
2) Letter to Washington State Health Care Authority providing notification of the County’s intent to continue operation of county-based Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organization
3) Discussion to learn about the Washington State, Clallam County, and Serenity House commitments to "Housing First" and the impact on the County Housing Crises Response system
(see full work session agenda)
Regular County Commission meeting agenda highlights
1) Contract with the Economic Development Corporation to promote and enhance economic development and employment opportunities for $60,000
2) EXECUTIVE SESSION - 1 p.m.
The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has requested an Executive Session with the Board of County Commissioners, the County Administrator, the Director of Community Development, the Director of Human Resources/Risk Department, outside legal counsel and the WCRP Claims Manager.
The purpose of this session is to discuss with the BoCC the federal lawsuit filed on December 21, 2017 by Judy Lee against Clallam County and Director Winborn under cause #3:17-cv-06065. Underlying the lawsuit is an application for a 32,000+ square feet structure proposed by applicant Judy Lee. Lee asserts her application is for a bed and breakfast within a single family residence while the County has determined the application is for a hotel. Parallel to the lawsuit, the consolidated hearing before the Hearing Examiner regarding the land use and building code issues is now scheduled to occur on Thursday, February 15, 2018.
Discussing such matters in executive session is appropriate because public knowledge of the discussion would reveal the County’s legal strategies and likely result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency. RCW 42.30.110 (1)(i) expressly authorizes a governing body to convene an executive session for the above-described purposes, specifically actual litigation against the County.
3) Federal grant application for Services for Victims and Survivors (VOCA) to help Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program meet national standard requirements
(see full agenda)
PORT OF PORT ANGELES AGENDA HIGHLIGHT
WASHINGTON SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER “WSBDC” FUNDING REQUEST
The Washington Small Business Development Center (“WSBDC”) is a government program created in 1980 by the U.S. Small Business Act.
The WSBDC is governed through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of SBDCs, and is hosted and administered in the State of Washington by Washington State University.
The WSBDC’s purpose is to provide confidential, in-depth one-on-one guidance at no cost to businesses in the private sector, to stipulate well-informed business owners that start, grow and/or transform their businesses and enhance local and regional economic development.
In 2015, WSBDC relocated its regional office to Port Angeles to better serve the North Olympic Peninsula and the Port provided space in the Port’s Admin office building. In light of WSBDC’s stated purpose and goals and the positive impact of WSBDC on economic development within the local economy, the Commission approved “in-kind” rent in exchange for services from WSBDC.
The lease with WSBDC has been in place since July 2015 and expires December 31, 2017. The lease has a one-year term and has two remaining one-year renewal provision at the option of the Port.
The lease covers 566 sq. ft. of office space and is currently valued at $579 per month; this amount will be adjusted by CPI on January 1st of each year. The WSBDC pays the Port for electricity/water & sewer. WSBDC directly pays providers for phone and internet connections.
The Executive Director has the authority to approve the lease renewal because the lease renewal terms were contemplated in the original lease and the “in-kind” waived rent and $23,000 in cash services were included in the 2018 budget.
Commission has expressed support for continued funding of the WSBDC for services in addition to inkind rent On January 4, 2018 the Executive Director and Real Estate Manager met with Kevin Hoult to discuss further opportunities for business development and interagency development and ways to further improve upon the services provided.
(See full agenda)
( more meetings and highlights can be found on page 3)
Other headlines...
Page 2: Cantwell Statement on Department of Justice Rollback of Cole Memorandum
Page 3: U.S. Department of Commerce Issues Affirmative Preliminary Antidumping Duty Determinations on Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from Belgium, Colombia and Thailand
page 4: Promises Made, Promises Kept: Interior Releases Comprehensive List of Accomplishments under President Trump & Secretary Zinke
page 5: NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission Locates Elusive Electron Act
page 6: Commentary; THE DOJ's Strong hand tactics Causes more harm than good.
