MCCARTHYISM AS A MERGED POLITICALLY CORRECTISM.
News Commentary
By. Peter Ripley. Publisher
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| Laura Ingalls Wilder had been "red flagged for not knowing in advance about being politically correct! (photos taken from google search) |
So, I can related.
But there's a little interesting story that everyone this week seemed to have forgotten about the Ingalls family that might soften the charge that the Ingalls were nothing but ignorant bigots by people in our society today. Laura Ingalls Wilder's older sister Mary Ingalls who was blind.
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| Mary Ingalls older sister of Laura who became blind. |
Scrubbing Laura Ingalls Wilder Is A Dangerous Step Toward Ignorance
"Few people are unfamiliar with the Little House on the Prairie book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Her simple retellings of her childhood memories of life in the big woods of Wisconsin, to the prairie of the Dakota territories, to her life as a married frontier wife have captured the imaginations of generations of readers."---The Federalist
Another quote from Article: " For many kids, the Little House series is also one of their first introductions into the personal life of someone with a disability. Laura’s older sister Mary goes blind in “By the Shores of Silver Lake.” This fundamentally changes not just Mary’s life, but that of Laura and the whole family. She learns compassion, and takes on her sister’s role, and works hard to save money to help send her sister to a special school so she can succeed as a blind person in the 1800s.
Attending the School for the Blind allowed Mary to learn Braille and how to navigate confidently on her own, and gave her independence. This provides parents an opportunity to talk about the changes in medical care we now enjoy, access to schooling options now versus in the past, and why and how we should treat people with differences. The Little House books help show how far we’ve come, and why this is so important for families and people with disabilities. It’s a shame to lose an opportunity to help kids understand how they should interact with and help others."
Editorial Note: Does this sound like a person who was completely without feeling, or sympathy on Laura Wilder's part? Of course this means nothing to the American Library Association (ALCS). That kinda flies in the face of the assumption that Laura Ingalls Wilder was a complete bigot doesn't? Now I am not trying to make excuses for bad behavior? Of course not, one has to look at all the angles before casting stones.
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| A quote from one of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books |
NOW TO BE FAIR, even though they weren't...
Here is the main press release from the ALCS:
ALA, ALSC respond to Wilder Medal name change
NEW ORLEANS - During the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans, the Board of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), voted to change the name of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award to the Children's Literature Legacy Award. This award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a significant and lasting contribution to children's literature. ALA President Jim Neal and ALSC President Nina Lindsay released the following joint statement:
“Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books have been and will continue to be deeply meaningful to many readers. Although Wilder’s work holds a significant place in the history of children’s literature and continues to be read today, ALSC has had to grapple with the inconsistency between Wilder’s legacy and its core values of inclusiveness, integrity and respect, and responsiveness through an award that bears Wilder’s name.
“Wilder’s books are a product of her life experiences and perspective as a settler in America’s 1800s. Her works reflect dated cultural attitudes toward Indigenous people and people of color that contradict modern acceptance, celebration, and understanding of diverse communities.
“ALSC works within the context of our society as a whole, where the conversations taking place inform our work and help us articulate our core values and support of diverse populations.
“Changing the name of the award should not be viewed as an attempt to censor, limit, or deter access to Wilder’s books and materials, but rather as an effort to align the award’s title with ALSC’s core values. This change should not be viewed as a call for readers to change their personal relationship with or feelings about Wilder’s books. Updating the award's name should not be construed as censorship, as we are not demanding that anyone stop reading Wilder’s books, talking about them, or making them available to children. We hope adults think critically about Wilder’s books and the discussions that can take place around them.
http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2018/06/ala-alsc-respond-wilder-medal-name-change
Editorial note: Then looking on their webpage I found this gem: American Library Association outraged by the refugee family separation policy,
This leaves me to assume that this was politically motivated going by what was said in these two press releases.
THIS JUST SMACKS OF MCCARTHYISM!
Back in the 1950's Sen. Joseph McCarthy went on a witch hunt, to track down and prosecute anyone who had Communist affiliation, anyone was a target, and blacklisted for being a communist; Actors, writers, newspapers, what have you. Even businesses were targeted who's owners had communist sympathies.
Back ground info from Wiki:
1) McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence.[1] The term refers to U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy and has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from 1947 to 1956 and characterized by alleged heightened political repression as well as an alleged campaign spreading fear of Communist influence on American institutions and of espionage by Soviet agents.
What would become known as the McCarthy era began before McCarthy's term in 1953. Following the First Red Scare, President Truman signed in 1947 an executive order to screen federal employees for association with organizations deemed "Totalitarian, Fascist, Communist or subversive" or advocating "to alter the form of Government of the United States by unconstitutional means." In 1949 a high level State Department official was convicted of perjury in a case of espionage and the Soviet Union tested an atomic bomb, while the Korea War started the next year, raising tensions in the United States. In a speech in May 1950, McCarthy presented a list of members of the Communist Party working in the State Department, which attracted the press' attention, and the term appeared for the first time in a political cartoon by the Washington Post that same year. The term has taken on a broader meaning, describing the excesses of similar efforts. The term is also now used more generally to describe reckless, unsubstantiated accusations, as well as demagogic attacks on the character or patriotism of political adversaries.---wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism
Editorial note: I must point out Laura Ingalls Wilder was still alive in the early 1950s, though there was no record of her being a communist, or blacklisted she lived through that time. She is now being " Red Flagged" today 60 some odd years after her death for being a racist by the leftist PC Police!
NEWS CLIPPINGS...
PJ MEDIA: American Library Association Removes Laura Ingalls Wilder's Name from Children's Book Award
Quote: " And now the deed has been done. But what did the ALSC accomplish?
Does removing Wilder's name from the award undo the hurts of centuries of racism? Are today's victims of discrimination magically seeing their pain go away and their injustices vanish? I doubt that stripping one name from an award will undo the despicable deeds of years past — especially when Laura Ingalls Wilder didn't commit those acts.
What the ALSC's actions do is wash away a unique honor for a woman whose writing displayed a gentle feminism. Yes, Wilder was a feminist in the best sense of the word — as Lucy Ellmann put it at The Guardian, Wilder's works were "about appreciating femaleness for femaleness's sake." Her legacy carried on in her daughter Rose Wilder Lane, herself a writer and editor and one of the earliest leading lights of libertarianism.
But none of that matters to the ALSC. Nor does the enjoyment of generations of young people from the incredible works Wilder produced, even though they may have included less than savory descriptions of certain people. Wilder's sin was that she failed to display political correctness decades before political correctness was even a movement.
https://pjmedia.com/trending/american-library-association-removes-laura-ingalls-wilders-name-from-childrens-book-award/
Editorial Note: Do you think people are going to stop reader her books, or watch reruns of Little House on the Prairie? If anything the book, and dvd sales will probably sky rocket!
More related news stories: Laura Ingalls Wilder’s name stripped from children’s book award over ‘Little House’ depictions of Native Americans--Washington Post dated 6/ 25/ 18
Quote: " Laura Ingalls Wilder was on the brink of having an award named in her honor, from the Association for Library Service to Children, when in 1952 a reader complained to the publisher of “Little House on the Prairie” about what the reader found to be a deeply offensive statement about Native Americans." ( read full story)
THE NATIONAL REVIEW: Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Name Scratched From Children’s Literature Award for Racial Insensitivity
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/laura-ingalls-wilder-award-name-removed-racial-insensitivity/
Quote: " The award, which recognizes authors who have contributed gems to children’s literature, was first bestowed upon Wilder herself in 1954. Those honored with it since include Dr. Seuss and E. B. White. This year’s winner was Jacqueline Woodson, author of “Brown Girl Dreaming.”
FOX NEWS: Do we have to erase the name of Laura Ingalls Wilder to ‘fix’ history? And who will be next?
Quote: " If we continue to impose our modern-day sensibilities on historical figures we’ll eventually fail to celebrate any of them. No one will be woke enough; everyone will need to be erased. Laura Ingalls Wilder is just the latest to go."---Fox News opinion
Melissa Gilbert, Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy & Research Association Respond to Wilder Award Name Change
“We stand by our board’s consensus position that the legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder, though encumbered with the perspectives of racism that were representative of her time and place, also includes overwhelmingly positive contributions to children’s literature that have touched generations past and will reach into the future,” the organization wrote in a letter to its members on its website. “We believe it is not beneficial to the body of literature to sweep away her name as though the perspectives in her books never existed. Those perspectives are teaching moments to show generations to come how the past was and how we, as a society, must move forward with a more inclusive and diverse perspective.”
https://www.slj.com/2018/06/industry-news/melissa-gilbert-posts-wilder-award-name-change/
Leftist Librarians Denigrate Beloved Children's Author
The gatekeepers of America's libraries now claim Laura Ingalls Wilder's writings were racist.---The Patriot Post
https://patriotpost.us/articles/56823-leftist-librarians-denigrate-beloved-childrens-author
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| Rose Lane Wilder, Laura Ingalls Wilder's daughter. (photo taken from google search) |
Quote: " During World War II, Lane enjoyed a new phase in her writing career. From 1942 to 1945, she wrote a weekly column for The Pittsburgh Courier, at the time, the most widely read African-American newspaper.
Rather than hiding or trimming her laissez faire views, Lane seized the chance to sell them to the readership. She sought out topics of special interest to her audience. Her first entry characterized the Double V campaign as part of the more general fight for individual liberty in the United States. She wrote, "Here, at last, is a place where I belong. Here are the Americans who know the value of equality and freedom." Her columns highlighted success stories of blacks to illustrate broader themes about entrepreneurship, freedom, and creativity. In one, she compared the accomplishments of Robert Vann and Henry Ford. Vann's rags to riches story illustrated the benefits in a "capitalist society in which a penniless orphan, one of a despised minority can create The Pittsburgh Courier and publicly, vigorously, safely, attack a majority opinion" while Ford's showed how a poor mechanic can create "hundreds of jobs ... putting even beggars into cars."
Lane combined advocacy of laissez faire and anti-racism. The views she expressed on race were similar to those of Zora Neale Hurston, a fellow individualist and writer who was black. Her columns emphasized the arbitrariness of racial categories and stressed the centrality of the individual. Instead of indulging in what she referred to as the "ridiculous, idiotic and tragic fallacy of race, [by] which a minority of the earth's population has deluded itself during the past century", Lane believed it was time for all Americans – black and white – to "renounce their race". Judging by skin color was comparable to the Communists who assigned guilt or virtue on the basis of class. In Lane's view, the fallacies of race and class hearkened to the "old English-feudal 'class' distinction." She further believed that the collectivists, including those who embraced President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, were to blame for filling "young minds with fantasies of 'races' and 'classes' and 'the masses,' all controlled by pagan gods, named Economic Determinism or Society or Government."----https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Wilder_Lane
Laura Ingalls Wilder bio, from wiki:
Quote: " Laura moved with her family from Wisconsin in 1869, when she was two years old. They stopped in Rothville, Missouri, and settled in Kansas, in Indian country near what is now Independence. Her younger sister Carrie (1870–1946) was born there in August 1870, not long before they moved again. According to her in later years, her father had been told that the location would soon be open to white settlers but that was incorrect; their homestead was actually on the Osage Indian reservation and they had no legal right to occupy it. They had just begun to farm when they heard rumors that the settlers would be evicted, and they left in spring 1871. Although Wilder portrayed the departure and that of other settlers as prompted by rumors of eviction in both her novel and in her Pioneer Girl memoirs, in the memoirs she also noted that her parents needed to recover their Wisconsin land because the buyer had not paid the entire mortgage. Several Kansas neighbors apparently were allowed to buy the land they had settled on, so the rumors may have been untrue."----https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Ingalls_Wilder#Little_House_books_2
With that I leave you this quote from Laura Ingalls Wilder:
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Kilmer Statement on Janus v. AFSCME Decision
WASHINGTON, DC—Following the Supreme Court’s 5-to-4 ruling in favor of Mark Janus in his suit against AFSCME, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) gave the following statement:
“Public unions fight for better pay, fair working hours and safe workplaces. That benefits every worker,” Kilmer said. “The federal government is the largest employer in our region, and the Court’s decision today weakens those workers’ rights to organize for better wages and better benefits. I will keep working in Congress to protect those rights and push back against the special interests who have launched ideologically-driven, persistent and well-funded legal attacks against working people and their right to organize.”---press release issued 6/ 27/ 18
http://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-statement-on-janus-v-afscme-decision
Kilmer, Thompson, Klobuchar, and Sasse Introduce Skills Investment Act of 2018
The Skills Investment Act of 2018 creates lifelong learning accounts, a portable, tax-advantaged benefit that will help workers learn new skills and compete in the changing economy---press release issued 6/ 27/ 18
http://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-thompson-klobuchar-and-sasse-introduce-skills-investment-act-of-2018
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ben Sasse (R-NE) introduced The Skills Investment Act of 2018. The bill would create lifelong-learning accounts, which workers in the changing economy can use to pay for skills training, career-related learning and professional development through their careers.
“Our economy is changing fast and the Skills Investment Act will help workers change with it,” Kilmer said. “American workers can use money from lifelong learning accounts to learn the skills needed to land new jobs, earn bigger paychecks and help our country out-compete the rest of the world. And employers can use the accounts to attract the best workers. This is just the start of what Congress can do to help America compete and win in the 21st Century economy.”
“I fully support expanding access to skills-based educational opportunities and professional development, and this bill provides incentives for workers of all ages to invest in their futures,” Thompson said. “With more than 6 million job openings, we must ensure that job seekers are learning the skills necessary to compete for in-demand jobs. As Co-Chair of the bipartisan House Career & Technical Education Caucus, I am proud to co-lead this bill with Rep. Kilmer and I thank him for his dedication to this issue.”
The Skills Investment Act enhances an existing tax-advantaged savings account, the Coverdell Education Savings Account, so that workers can use the accounts to pay for training programs that teach them new skills. Like a Health Savings Account, these voluntary accounts would be portable — moving with workers throughout their lives — contributions are tax free, and both workers and employers receive tax credits for contributions to the accounts.
The tax treatment of these savings accounts would be similar to a Health Savings Account. Mid-career workers can contribute up to $4,000 tax free each year, with a maximum contribution limit of $10,000. Employers would receive a 25% tax credit for contributions to a worker’s account.
Workers can use the account at any time to learn skills to make them more competitive as the economy changes. By contributing to the accounts, employers can attract and retain employees.
A bipartisan group of original sponsors joined Kilmer and Thompson in the House including Reps. Lou Barletta (R-PA) and Scott Peters (D-CA).
“When I’m talking with employers back in Pennsylvania, they always tell me that they have good-paying, family-sustaining jobs available, but they can’t find skilled workers to fill them,” Barletta said. “I am proud to have worked alongside Representatives Kilmer, Thompson, and Peters to bridge the skills gap to give Americans the tools they need to get back into the workforce.”
“Education spurs innovation. American workers should have access to educational opportunities throughout their careers so they can remain competitive in the economy of tomorrow,” Rep. Peters said. “The Skills Investment Act reinforces that by encouraging workers and their employers to contribute to lifelong learning accounts. I will continue to support measures to prepare American workers to thrive in the evolving economy.”
Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ben Sasse (R-NE) introduced the companion version of the bill in the United States Senate.
“The American workforce is changing, and people need the ability to save for and attain the right training to begin and grow in their careers,” Senator Klobuchar said. “For some this means saving to enroll in college—but for others that means skills training, career-related learning, and professional development. No matter what path a student or worker takes, they should have the ability to save to get the education necessary for 21st century jobs.”
Lifelong learning accounts have historically had strong bipartisan support, including from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, Prosperity Now, and the Goldwater Institute, and leading policy experts focused on the future of work.
Alastair Fitzpayne, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Future of Work Initiative said: “Technology will continue to play a key role in reshaping the economy, making it increasingly important that workers have lifelong access to education and training. Worker-owned training accounts are needed to help workers update their existing skills and acquire new skills throughout their careers.”
Gabe Horwitz, Vice President for the Economic Program at Third Way said: “Workers all over the country have an underlying worry about their economic future in the digital age. To help them and their children, we need new and modern policies that drastically increase the opportunity for workers to get 21st-century skills and high-quality credentials. Lifelong learning accounts are the exact type of forward-thinking tool that can transform the ability for people to earn a good life throughout their career. We applaud Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Derek Kilmer for their approach to this critical idea and consistent leadership on helping more Americans earn in the decades ahead.”
Katie Brown, Senior Federal Policy Analyst at the National Skills Coalition said: “As the U.S. economy continues to grow, federal policies that aim to prepare workers for emerging job openings and help businesses maintain their competitive edge are more important than ever. National Skills Coalition—a multi-stakeholder organization focused on supporting a wide range of workers and industries—applauds Senators Amy Klobuchar and Ben Sasse as well as Representatives Derek Kilmer and Glenn Thompson for introducing the Skills Investment Act of 2018, a straightforward, bipartisan measure that will make career-related learning more accessible.”
Matthew Biggs, Legislative and Political Director for the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers said: “IFPTE is pleased to support the Skills Investment Act authored by Congressman Derek Kilmer. This legislation that will allow workers and students to utilize the tax benefits accorded by the Coverdell Savings Account not only for education expenses, but also for skills training, career-related learning, and professional development. This carefully crafted bill will also would prohibit employers from off-loading internal training costs onto employees. We are happy to endorse this bill.”
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES FROM THE UN NEWS CENTER & OTHER SOURCES...
UN PRESS RELEASE: Nearly 50,000 People Displaced in South-Western Syria amid Full Ground Offensive, Aerial Bombardments, Special Envoy Tells Security Council
Country’s Permanent Representative Faults Secretary-General’s Report for Not Prioritizing Anti-Terrorism Efforts by Damascus
https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/sc13397.doc.htm
Secretary-General Condemns Loss of Life, Property Due to Rise in Violent Conflicts between Farmers, Herders across West, Central Africa
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the increasing frequency, intensity, complexity and geographic scope of violent conflict between farmers and herders, as well as related banditry, extortion and cattle rustling, in several countries across West and Central Africa. He condemns the resulting loss of life, property and livelihoods, as well as population displacement, which undermines peaceful coexistence between communities in many of the affected countries. It is also detrimental to regional stability.---UN press release issued 6/ 28/ 18
https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/sgsm19116.doc.htm
Iran: UN rights chief ‘deeply disturbed’ by continuing executions of juvenile offenders
Following the execution of a 15-year-old in Iran on Wednesday – the fourth juvenile to be put to death in the country this year – the United Nations rights chief condemned the practice, citing the strict prohibition of such executions under international law.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/06/1013442
‘Agile’, multilateral response vital to combat terrorism – UN chief Guterres
The complex and evolving nature of terrorism necessitates a response that is as agile and multifaceted as the threat itself, the United Nations Secretary-General said on Thursday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/06/1013402
From the US Mission to the UN:
Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on Non-Proliferation
" It is clear from the report that Iran bears responsibility for providing the Houthis with five ballistic missiles that they have launched at civilian targets in Saudi Arabia. The UN also finds that seized weapons they inspected in Bahrain were manufactured in Iran. And it confirms that an unmanned explosive boat recovered by the UAE had systems with coordinates showing that it had been in Iranian territorial waters and that at least some of its components were manufactured in Iran. The report describes Iranian drones recovered in Yemen and Syria, and it cites a televised interview with Hamas political leader Yahya Sinwar, in which he states that the Islamic Republic of Iran provided armed groups in Gaza with “money, [military] equipment, and expertise” before and after the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict."-----Jonathan Cohen, U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, U.S. Mission to the United Nations
https://usun.state.gov/remarks/8503
Explanation of Vote following the Adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2423 Renewing the Mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA)
" With this resolution we have also streamlined the mandate, emphasized the primacy of the mission’s political engagement, and stressed the importance of outreach and engagement for the protection of civilians. We have called on the mission to develop better strategic messaging so Malians understand that MINUSMA is there to bring peace and stability and to work with others in the development, security, and political sectors to help Mali succeed." ----Jonathan Cohen, U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
https://usun.state.gov/remarks/8504
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Inspector General Launches Inquiry After Senators Cantwell, Murray Demand Investigation of Health Department’s Treatment of Children Separated from Parents Under President Trump’s Policy.
Press release issued 6/ 28/ 18
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/inspector-general-launches-inquiry-after-senators-cantwell-murray-demand-investigation-of-health-departments-treatment-of-children-separated-from-parents-under-president-trumps-policy_
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would conduct a comprehensive review of the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) program after U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate health committee, and 39 other Senate Democrats sent a letter to the Office of the Inspector General requesting they look into the issue. The request for an investigation follows weeks of uncertainty about the health department’s ability to appropriately care for children placed in its custody as a result of President Trump’s family separation policy, as well as the department’s lack of clarity around plans to reunite children and parents.
“We write to request a comprehensive review of the operations of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) program, particularly focused on how the Office has approached and responded to President Trump’s family separation policy. We are alarmed by the uncertainty and pain inflicted on thousands of families arriving at the U.S. border, particularly the mental and physical harm inflicted on immigrant children and their parents by this policy, and we are deeply troubled by recent reports of maltreatment of children while under ORR custody. While we are encouraged by the announcement of recent efforts to prioritize family reunification, we also have significant questions about how the Department is working to accomplish this goal. It is equally important that we understand what measures, if any, HHS undertook to prioritize the health, safety, and wellbeing of children in its custody as it implemented the family separation policy, both before and after President Trump’s June 20 Executive Order to reverse the policy,” the Senators wrote in their letter.
Cantwell, Washington State Lawmakers Urge Administration to Continue Prioritizing BPA, Other Power Marketing Administrations Within Energy Department
Press release issued 6/ 28/ 18
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-washington-state-lawmakers-urge-administration-to-continue-prioritizing-bpa-other-power-marketing-administrations-within-energy-department
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, a bipartisan, bicameral group of Washington state lawmakers sent a letter to Energy Secretary Rick Perry, urging the Energy Department to maintain the place of the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs), including the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), within the department’s reporting structure.
The letter to Secretary Perry was signed by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Patty Murray (D-WA), and U.S. Representatives Denny Heck (D-WA), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
Recently, the Energy Department established a new organizational structure, in which PMAs would report to the Assistant Secretary for Electricity rather than the Deputy Energy Secretary. This decision changes a successful reporting structure that has been in place since 1993, one which has allowed PMAs like BPA in the Pacific Northwest to consistently produce quality and affordable electricity service, as well as effectively respond to emergencies.
In the letter, the members of Congress wrote, “We urge you to reconsider this decision and to maintain the elevation of PMA issues to the senior leadership of the Department. While we respect your authority under the Department of Energy Organization Act to delegate various functions, the long-standing arrangement of the PMAs reporting directly to the Deputy Secretary has worked well. We are concerned that these changes could lead to decisions that are not in the best interest of Pacific Northwest ratepayers.”
The members also stressed the importance of BPA power to communities throughout the Pacific Northwest, and the importance of having a direct line of communication to the most senior levels of the Department of Energy.
“For many of our constituents, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) rates and personnel are the most important variables in the quality and affordability of electric service in their communities,” the members continued. “BPA’s high-voltage transmission network is the backbone of the electric grid in the Pacific Northwest. In times of economic distress, such as the power markets crisis in 2000-2001, dedicated attention to the PMAs from the most senior levels of the Department is essential.”
BPA provides affordable carbon-free power to more than 13 million consumers in the Pacific Northwest, producing roughly 28 percent of the electric power used throughout the region. BPA’s transmission network makes up three-quarters of the region’s high-voltage transmission system.
NATIONAL HEADLINES....
President Donald J. Trump’s Travel Restrictions Defend Our Country.
White House fact sheet released on 6/ 27/ 18
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trumps-travel-restrictions-defend-country/
UPHELD BY THE SUPREME COURT: President Donald J. Trump has secured another historic victory for America’s safety and security in a new ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States.
The Supreme Court upheld Presidential Proclamation 9645 in a 5-4 decision, which suspended the entry of foreign nationals into the United States from countries that failed to meet minimum baseline requirements for immigration screening and vetting.
It is the President’s sacred duty to take action to ensure that those seeking to enter our country will not harm the American people.
The ruling affirms the legality of the President’s actions, and will allow the federal government to ensure the security of the United States.
The Supreme Court ruled that the Presidential Proclamation “is squarely within the scope of Presidential authority” and notes that it is “expressly premised on legitimate purposes.”
Statement on Justice Anthony M. Kennedy
Today, we thank Justice Anthony M. Kennedy for his thirty years of distinguished service on the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1987, President Reagan nominated him to the Court, and he was swiftly confirmed without opposition. A Californian—like the President who appointed him—Justice Kennedy is a true man of letters. During his tenure on the Court, he authored landmark opinions in every significant area of constitutional law, most notably on equal protection under the law, the separation of powers, and the First Amendment’s guarantees of freedom of speech and religion.
Justice Kennedy has been a tireless voice for individual rights and the Founders’ enduring vision of limited government. His words have left an indelible mark not only on this generation, but on the fabric of American history.----White House press release issued 6/ 27/ 18
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-justice-anthony-m-kennedy/
Congressional reaction: Senator Murray Sounds the Alarm on Supreme Court Justice Kennedy’s Retirement: “I share the deep concern of so many families across this country who…fear further erosion of the progress we have made”
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ID=44F8C959-8130-4CF6-9680-7D30E26C7E23
US STATE DEPT: Recent Protests in Iran
Secretary Pompeo (June 27): “The Iranian government is squandering its citizens’ resources, whether its adventurism in Syria, its support for Hizbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, or its ambitions for wastefully expanding its nuclear program...The people of Iran are tired of the corruption, injustice, and incompetence from their leaders. The world hears their voice.”
https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2018/06/283567.htm
DOJ: National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in Charges Against 601 Individuals Responsible for Over $2 Billion in Fraud Losses
Largest Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action in Department of Justice History Resulted in 76 Doctors Charged and 84 Opioid Cases Involving More Than 13 Million Illegal Dosages of Opioids
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/national-health-care-fraud-takedown-results-charges-against-601-individuals-responsible-over
Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex M. Azar III, announced today the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action involving 601 charged defendants across 58 federal districts, including 165 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving more than $2 billion in false billings. Of those charged, 162 defendants, including 76 doctors, were charged for their roles in prescribing and distributing opioids and other dangerous narcotics. Thirty state Medicaid Fraud Control Units also participated in today’s arrests. In addition, HHS announced today that from July 2017 to the present, it has excluded 2,700 individuals from participation in Medicare, Medicaid, and all other Federal health care programs, which includes 587 providers excluded for conduct related to opioid diversion and abuse. ----press release issued 6/ 28/ 18
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IRS: Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee issues 2018 annual report.
WASHINGTON — The Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC) today released its annual report, featuring numerous recommendations on a range of issues in electronic tax administration.
The Committee presented the report at a public meeting to IRS Acting Commissioner David Kautter.
"The ETAAC works closely with the Security Summit in the fight against identity theft and refund fraud,” Kautter said. “The group’s advice is important to our efforts to improve tax administration, and the IRS looks forward to reviewing the recommendations.”
ETAAC exists in support of the goal that paperless filing should be the preferred and most convenient method of filing tax and information returns. This is the Committee’s second annual report since it was realigned and expanded to focus on refund fraud and cybersecurity.
While the ETAAC makes recommendations to the IRS, it works in conjunction with the Security Summit, a joint effort of the IRS, state tax administrators, tax software providers, tax professionals and financial services firms to fight fraud. Summit efforts have resulted in sharp declines in the number of taxpayer reports of identity theft and refund fraud.
ETAAC members represent various segments of the tax community, including tax professionals, tax software developers, large and small businesses, employers and payroll service providers, individual taxpayers and consumer advocates, the financial industry and state and local governments.---press release issued 6/ 27/ 18
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/electronic-tax-administration-advisory-committee-issues-2018-annual-report
Tax bill this year? Check withholding soon, avoid another one next year
WASHINGTON — Taxpayers who owed additional tax when they filed their 2017 federal tax return earlier this year can avoid another unexpected tax bill next year by doing a “paycheck checkup” as soon as possible, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the tax reform legislation passed in December, made major changes to the tax law, including increasing the standard deduction, removing personal exemptions, increasing the Child Tax Credit, limiting or discontinuing certain deductions and changing tax rates and brackets.
These far-reaching changes could have a big impact on the tax refund or balance due on the tax return people file next year. The IRS encourages every employee to do a “paycheck checkup” soon to ensure they have the correct amount of tax taken out of their pay.
Checking and adjusting withholding now can prevent an unexpected tax bill and penalties next year at tax time. The IRS Withholding Calculator and Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax, can help.
The IRS encourages taxpayers to be proactive:
Do a ‘paycheck checkup’ soon
The Withholding Calculator can help taxpayers apply the new law to their specific financial situation and make an informed decision whether to change their withholding this year.
Adjust their withholding as soon as possible for an even, consistent amount of withholding throughout the rest of the year.
Taxpayers with more complex situations may need to use Publication 505. The publication is more effective for employees who owe self-employment tax, the alternative minimum tax or tax on unearned income from dependents. It can also help those who receive non-wage income such as dividends, capital gains, rents and royalties. Publication 505 includes worksheets and examples to guide taxpayers through their particular situations.
Underpayment penalties
To avoid paying the estimated tax penalty, taxpayers should ensure they have enough tax withheld from their paychecks and appropriate estimated tax payments. Ordinarily, taxpayers can avoid this penalty by paying at least 90 percent of their tax during the year.
If taxpayers expect to owe at least $1,000 in tax after subtracting withholding and refundable credits, they should make estimated tax payments.
Using the Withholding Calculator or Publication 505
Taxpayers should have their completed 2017 tax return handy to help estimate the amount of income, deductions, adjustments and credits to enter. They’ll also need their most recent pay stubs to help compute their withholding to date this year. Results from these tools depend on the accuracy of information a taxpayer provides.
Employees can use the results from the Withholding Calculator or Publication 505 to help determine if they should complete a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, and, if so, what information to include on the form.
The calculator may also be helpful to recipients of pension and annuity income. These recipients can change their withholding by filling out Form W-4P and giving it to their payer.
If a taxpayer’s personal circumstances change during the year, they should re-check their withholding.
Adjusting withholding
If an employee determines they should adjust their withholding, they should complete a new Form W-4 and submit it to their employer as soon as possible.
Some employers have an electronic method to update a Form W-4.
Taxpayers who change their 2018 withholding should recheck their withholding at the start of 2019. A mid-year withholding change in 2018 may have a different full-year impact in 2019, so if taxpayers don’t submit a new Form W-4 for 2019, their withholding might be higher or lower than intended.
If an employee has a change in personal circumstances that reduces the number of withholding allowances they can claim, they must submit a new Form W-4 within 10 days of the change.
The fewer withholding allowances an employee enters on the Form W-4, the higher their tax withholding will be. Entering “0” or “1” on line 5 of the Form W-4 means more tax will be withheld; entering a bigger number means less tax will be withheld.
Additional information
The Withholding Calculator does not request personally identifiable information such as name, Social Security number, address or bank account numbers. The IRS does not save or record the information entered on the calculator. Taxpayers should be aware of tax scams, especially via email or phone and cybercriminals impersonating the IRS. The IRS does not send emails related to the calculator or the information entered in it.
The calculator and Publication 505 are not tax-planning tools. Taxpayers needing advice regarding the new tax law and personal situations should consult a trusted tax professional.----press release from the IRS dated 6/ 28/ 18
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-bill-this-year-check-withholding-soon-avoid-another-one-next-year
In other business and finance news headlines....
Quick Take: Your Update on Tax Reform, Six Months Later
Remind me: Six months ago today, on December 22, 2017, President Trump signed the first major overhaul of the nation’s federal tax code in more than 30 years.
Why does it matter? The tax reform legislation lowered rates for all businesses, doubled the standard federal tax deduction, increased the child tax credit for families across the country, and introduced a new family leave tax credit, among myriad other benefits. Due to the overhaul, 90% of American workers are seeing increased take home pay, wages are growing at their fastest pace in a decade, and business and consumer confidence are surging.---US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BLOG posted 6/ 22/ 18
https://www.uschamber.com/series/above-the-fold/quick-take-your-update-tax-reform-six-months-later
DEPT. of LABOR: Seeking Mine Safety Solutions Through Technology
Can the technology developed for self-driving cars help save a miner’s life? That is a question we are trying to answer at the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
This week, MSHA published a Request for Information on technological improvements for powered haulage equipment that may have lifesaving implications for the mining industry. Powered haulage equipment transports materials at mines and includes haul trucks, front loaders, and conveyor belts. Unfortunately, accidents involving powered haulage account for a large share of mining fatalities.---US DEPT. of Labor blog post 6/ 28/ 18
https://blog.dol.gov/2018/06/28/seeking-mine-safety-solutions-through-technology
USDA BLOG: After at Least Five Decades of Growth, High-Income Countries are Now Investing Less in Public Agricultural R&D
Governments in high-income countries are spending less on agricultural research. A new report from USDA’s Economic Research Service reviews long-term trends in public agricultural research and development (R&D) investment by high-income countries and examines how these investments have contributed to economic growth.
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2018/06/28/after-least-five-decades-growth-high-income-countries-are-now-investing-less
Federal Reserve releases findings from study of small business owners' perspectives on online lenders and products
The Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland on Thursday published Browsing to Borrow: "Mom & Pop" Small Business Perspectives on Online Lenders. The report examines small business owners' perceptions of online lenders and their understanding and interpretation of the information that online lenders use to describe their credit products.---press release issued 6/ 28/ 18
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/other20180628a.htm
Statement by FTC Chairman Simons on DOJ’s Remitting more than $500 Million to FTC for Consumers Deceived in Payday Lending Scheme
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Joseph Simons issued the following statement regarding the Justice Department’s plan to remit more than $500 million to the FTC for consumers who were harmed by a massive payday lending scheme:
“We are very pleased that the Justice Department was able to recover this money in connection with its criminal and civil cases, and that we can help by returning it to consumers,” Simons said.
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/06/statement-ftc-chairman-simons-dojs-remitting-more-500-million-ftc
PAGE 5
In Another Rejection of President Trump’s Reckless Budget Proposals, Senator Murray Applauds Bipartisan Passage of Critical Funding for Hanford Cleanup, VA Caregivers Program, and Additional Priorities for Washington State Families, Veterans, and Military Bases.
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded the passage of legislation to invest in critical Washington state priorities and vital programs to support families, veterans, military bases, and scientific research in Washington state and across the nation. Rejecting President Trump’s reckless budget proposal that would have cut investments from important federal obligations like nuclear waste cleanup at Hanford, the legislation provides $315 million in additional federal funding to support Hanford cleanup efforts. Additionally, the legislation includes an increase of $365 million from President Trump’s budget proposal in new federal spending for VA’s popular Caregivers program for veterans, a program Senator Murray has long championed and recently fought to successfully expand to include post-9/11 era veterans. The spending package passed the Senate 86 to 5.
“Once again, I’m proud that Democrats and Republicans have come together to reject President Trump’s senseless budget cuts and instead craft a budget that honors the sacrifices of central Washington families and helps address some of the most critical needs faced by people in communities across the country,” said Senator Murray after the bill’s passage. “We can’t let our government forget its moral obligations to its people and our communities, from Hanford cleanup to taking care of our veterans and so much more, and as a voice for Washington state, I will continue fighting to strengthen investments in these important efforts and keep these priorities front and center on Congress’ agenda.”
Senator Murray, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, previously worked to secure these investments during the bill writing process, leading efforts to help pass legislation out of the Appropriations Committee last month that includes continued funding for Hanford cleanup and improvements to the VA’s Caregiver program to make it more accessible to veterans of all eras, in addition to investments in other Washington state priorities including increased funding for scientific research and development, and investments to help repair and maintain Washington waterways and military bases.
More highlights of the legislation, including Washington state-specific investments, included below:
$2.411 billion for nuclear waste cleanup at Hanford
$838.171 million for Richland Operations, $180 million more than the President’s budget proposal
$1.573 billion for Office of River Protection, $135 million more than President’s budget proposal
$20 million for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, supports operation, maintenance, and cleanup activities at the Hanford and Los Alamos, New Mexico sites
$6.65 billion for Department of Energy’s Office of Science, supports 10 national laboratories, including PNNL ($1.259 billion more than the President’s budget proposal)
$715 million for Biological and Environmental Research, supports the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory and Atmospheric Radiation Measurement User Facility at PNNL. These scientific user facilities provide access to unique, state of the art equipment for more than 1,800 users annually.
$35 million for the Energy Sciences Capability, supports a construction project at PNNL to provide modern lab space and equipment
$260 million for Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, supports research and development at PNNL, Washington State University (WSU), utilities, and industry in the Northwest
$2.322 billion for Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, ($1.626 billion more than the President’s budget proposal); supports research and development efforts at PNNL, WSU, University of Washington, and more
$6.927 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ($2.142 billion more than the President’s budget proposal)
$50 million to support small ports, including the Ports of Bellingham, Ilwaco, Chinook, Ridgefield, Skagit, Willapa Harbor, and more
$50 million to support donor and energy transfer ports, including the Northwest Seaport Alliance
$6 million to help combat invasive species in the Columbia River Basin through watercraft inspection stations, rapid response, and monitoring
$3 million for the VA’s child care pilot program
$17 million for the VA’s Intimate Partner Violence Program to help provide holistic services and support for veterans experiencing domestic and intimate partner violence
Increased investments in military bases around Washington state, including, but not limited to:
$89 million for pier maintenance at Naval Base Kitsap
$19 million for Fleet Support Facility at Whidbey Island
$8 million for Whidbey Island Next Generation Jammer Facility
$26 million for Refueling Facility at Joint Base Lewis McChord
Press release issued on 6/ 25/ 18
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ID=67BEC486-8311-4F9C-BC2A-1697961F82A4
Kilauea volcano helps emergency managers better prepare for threats in Washington
From the Governor's medium page.
https://medium.com/wagovernor/kilauea-volcano-helps-emergency-managers-better-prepare-for-volcano-threats-in-washington-42dec55d7f0c
When emergency management workers from Washington travel to Hawaii to help respond to the Kilauea volcanic eruption, they also learn valuable lessons for Washington’s own volcano program.
Brian Terbush, Washington Emergency Management Division’s volcano program coordinator, recently returned from a five-day stint in Hawaii, where he observed the erupting Kilauea volcano and spent time working in an Emergency Operations Center there. Terbush helps with preparedness activities for Washington’s volcano program.
“Our state has enormous volcanic threats, and this was a great opportunity to get hands-on experience working in an EOC that is responding to an active volcano,” Terbush said. “We have a lot we can learn from this.”
On Friday, Washington EMD’s Logistics Division also received a call for more help from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency under the national Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
A six-person support team, made up of employees from the state Department of Health and the state Department of Corrections, responded to that call for help. The Washington Incident Management team will conduct EOC operations to facilitate continuity of operations, planning and logistics at the Hawaii County Emergency Operations Center in Hilo for the eruption. The team heads to Hawaii today, reports to work on Wednesday, and is expected to travel home on July 11. Hawaii is paying for the endeavor.
Both the DOC and DOH team members have experience in Type 3 events and incidents. Type 3 teams manage initial action, extended attack, or expanding incidents, sometimes until transitional teams can arrive or until completion of the incident.
Washington state has responded in recent years to Emergency Management Assistance Compact requests for wildfires California, as well as hurricane threats along the East Coast.
Learning from Hawaii’s ongoing response to the volcano crisis
Terbush said he’d love to go back to Hawaii if the state needs his help again. While in Hawaii, he worked alongside staff from the Cascades Volcano Observatory who typically work in Vancouver, Wash.
“This is such a unique opportunity,” Terbush said. “I received a better idea for how a state EOC responds to a volcanic crisis, and how they support the locals, respond to (the Federal Emergency Management Agency), and work with other groups like (the U.S. Geological Survey) and Civil Defense in Hawaii. We have a lot in common despite the different eruption sites. When our volcanoes erupt, there will be the same uncertainty in a timeline and … we’ll have to think about what would happen long into the future.”
Preparing for volcano threats at home
All of this is happening as Washington state officials improve their own preparedness level for volcanoes. Washington state has five major volcanoes in the Cascade Range: Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams.
On Wednesday, Terbush will host a tabletop exercise at Camp Murray with local, state and federal jurisdictions to talk about what would happen if Mount Rainier were to erupt.
“We’re going to make sure all of our standard operating procedures are synced up,” Terbush said, noting that the exercise is about ensuring that not just scientists and first responders are in the loop on eruption notices, but the public is, too.
In October, a five-day, full-scale exercise is also planned in Whatcom County involving a hypothetical Mount Baker eruption. It will cover administrative decisions, search-and-rescue, responding to a lahar (a giant volcanic mudflow), and recovery planning. The exercise comes on the tails of a similar exercise last year that looked at cross-border communications between Canada and the United States.
PAGE 6
Statement regarding U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn landmark labor rights case
Press release from the Governor issued 6/ 27/ 18
https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/statement-regarding-us-supreme-courts-decision-overturn-landmark-labor-rights-case
Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson issued the following statement today on the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the Janus v. AFSCME case, which overturns the 1977 Abood decision:
“Once again, this conservative-majority court sided with anti-worker forces and issued a ruling designed to undermine public sector unions. In a 5-4 decision, the court overturned a unanimous decision from 40 years ago. By compromising the ability of law enforcement, sanitation workers, educators and other public employees to collectively organize, this court and these special interests are taking us backwards to a time when workers had to resort to enormously disruptive strikes and walk-outs in order to make their voices heard.
“The reality is that all workers benefit from strong unions and their bargaining activities. Washington has been and will remain a state that believes in and supports the rights of all workers to organize, in both the public and private sector.
“Organized labor fights for Washington state’s strong middle class. Thankfully, the working men and women in Washington state are resilient, and we are confident organized labor will come through this fight stronger than before.”
AG FERGUSON FILES 12TH LAWSUIT AGAINST EPA EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today joined 10 other Attorneys General in challenging the Environmental Protection Agency for improperly reversing a rule that prohibited the use of a powerful type of greenhouse gas. This is Ferguson’s 12th lawsuit against the Trump Administration EPA over actions undermining efforts to combat global warming.---press release issued 6/ 27/ 18
https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-files-12th-lawsuit-against-epa-efforts-undermine-fight-against-global
Snohomish County’s significant aerospace assets showcased for Governor’s Choose Washington NMA Council
Nearly half of Washington State’s world-leading aerospace workforce is in Snohomish County, where suppliers support Airbus, Bombardier, Comac, Embraer, Mitsubishi and Sukhoi in addition to Boeing.
EVERETT, WA – Leaders in the effort to win design, production and final assembly of Boeing’s potential new middle-of-the-market airplane (NMA) met in Snohomish County today, where Paine Field’s Aerospace Training Complex brings together Everett and Edmonds Community Colleges, the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee and the Washington Aerospace Training and Research Center to serve more than 200 aerospace employers. The county employs 48 percent Washington State’s world-leading aerospace workforce, supporting Boeing and other major global OEMs Bombardier, Comac, Embraer, Mitsubishi and Sukhoi.---from the Washington State Commerce release dated 6/ 26/ 18
http://www.commerce.wa.gov/news-releases/snohomish-countys-significant-aerospace-assets-showcased-for-governors-choose-washington-nma-council/
West Point penalty to fund eelgrass restoration
Full value of Ecology fine for King County sewage plant violations applied to environmental projects
SEATTLE – The bulk of King County’s $361,000 state penalty for last year’s West Point sewage treatment plant failure will support a Puget Sound eelgrass recovery project, under oversight by the Department of Ecology.
https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/News/2018/June-28-West-Point-project
Keep crab pots out of ferry lanes
OLYMPIA – Harvesting crab is a Northwest tradition, but improperly set and lost crab pots can mean big trouble for the region's ferry system.
That's why the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Washington State Ferries (WSF) are joining forces this summer to urge recreational crab fishers to stay out of ferry lanes, docks, and terminals when dropping crab pots.
https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/jun2818a/
Washington’s average wage nears $61,900 in 2017
OLYMPIA – Washington’s average annual wage grew by 5.0 percent in 2017 to $61,887, according to the state Employment Security Department—representing the largest percentage increase year over year since 2007.
https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/washingtons-average-wage-nears-61900-in-2017
LOCAL & REGIONAL MEETING AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
1) Clallam County Commission work session for 6. 2. 18
http://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=1113
Agenda highlights:
(The regular session of the Clallam County Commission had been canceled due to the holiday 4th of July)
PORT OF PORT ANGELES SPECIAL MEETING CALLED 7/ 2/ 18
Special Commission Meeting - District Listening Session
https://portofpa.com/Calendar.aspx?EID=493
PASD Board Meeting
When: Thu, July 12, 7pm – 9pm
Where: Port Angeles School District, 216 E 4th St, Port Angeles, WA 98362, USA
Jefferson County Commission agenda for 7/ 2/ 18
https://media.avcaptureall.com/session.html?sessionid=5eb830d0-d669-4940-8b67-a061e81301f8&prefilter=845,5958
Agenda highlight: AGREEMENT, Change Order No. 1 re: 2018 Pavement Marking on Jefferson County Road, County Project No. 180 20490; Reduce Amount by $19,291.70 for a Total of $287,532.19; Jefferson County Public Works; Apply-Aline, LLC
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♰He's in your corner
WEEKLY BIBLE VERSE: The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.---Psalm 138:8 NIV
Weekly Bible Study
Is Church Membership Essential to Salvation?
Can a person be saved without being a member of the church?
First, we must consider what we mean by "the church." Surely a person can be saved outside the many man-made denominations. In fact, people in the Bible were always saved outside denominations, simply because denominations did not exist in the Bible! All denominations are human in origin and exist by human authority (read Matthew 15:9).----Gospel Way
Free bible studies (WBS)
Learn english using the bible as text (WEI)
http://www.worldenglishinstitute.org/
(Join us in worship every Sunday starting at 10:30AM Church of Christ)
👲Riddle Genie
From, Squigly's Featured Games
http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/BrainTeasers/CleverBrainTeasers.php#top
last week's question: What is the singular form of the word "dice?"
Answer from last week: Die.
New Question: Three girls are taking a bull to the zoo when their car brakes down. They motion for a guy to pull over. They ask to use his phone to call the zoo. He agrees, but says it would cost them $1 for every word. They only had $1 dollar. They paid the man and five minutes later the zoo was there. What was the one word used?
Answer next week: Comfortable: com(come) for(for) ta(the) ble(bull).
Answer next
