This story appeared in the local paper, The Peninsula Daily News entitled: State Legislature about to warm up after snow; Local lawmakers discuss plastic bags, jobs, death penalty.
Quoting from the article: " The three Peninsula lawmakers said they would support a bill that would prohibit many stores from providing non-compostable, single-use plastic bags.
Under House and Senate bills that have moved past initial hearings, stores would be required to collect a 10-cent charge for each recycled paper bag provided at checkout.
The cities of Port Angeles and Port Townsend have enacted similar laws — the Port Angeles City Council passed its ordinance by 4-3 vote last April — that require stores to charge 5 cents for a paper bag.
Van De Wege said the law would need to be consistent across the state.
“I favor it at this point,” Van De Wege said.
“First of all, it’s low-hanging fruit to help our environment. I like that. And it also brings value to timber.”
Chapman said it would be “really good for our mills to have more paper bags being used.”
“I’m not a big fan of the fee,” Chapman said of the mandatory 10-cent charge for a paper bag.
“I view that as ‘So, your going to take a dime out of shoppers’ pockets and give it to the large corporations?’ It’s like a reverse tax. I’m going to try to mitigate the fee.”
Editorial Comment: Yet again, we are doing the bidding of environmental extremist who are bent on controlling what shoppers use for bringing home the groceries. Now if you happen to not bring your cloth shopping bag, you'll be zinged by the state 10 cents for each paper bag. The article didn't say that would be on top of the 5 cent fee that local stores already charge, or not. So were left wondering about that. Now, this is a state wide feel good measure, which doesn't consider those cloth bags, that they all talk so highly about ware out, and end up being thrown out, cause just as much pollution in the landfills, as the store bought garbage bags! So what good does banning plastic shopping bags do, other than making the environmentalist feel good?
NO CHILD SHOULD ENDURE ABUSE IN SCHOOL, OR AT HOME!
WE THE PEOPLE
Please ban corporal (physical) punishment in all public schools by federal law; it's still legal in 19 states.
Please ban corporal punishment (spanking, paddling, and any form of physical punishment) in all U.S. public schools by federal law. It is still legal in 19 states. Over 100,000 students are subjected to corporal punishment in these states each school year which research shows has negative effects on children. Together, we can help make all public schools safe places to learn without fear of physical punishment. ( petition link)
Editorial Note: I support this ban because back when I was in the 5th grade, going to school was a nightmare. This was back when I lived in Vermont, and was living in a group home for the disabled, at the time. They had a teacher come in and taught school. He turned out to be an abusive brute, particularly towards me. Whenever I got a math lesson wrong, or some other lesson he was teaching wrong he would hit me with a yard stick on my hands or head! That's probably didn't do so well in school from then on, the fear of being beaten if I got a problem incorrect. That is why I support this petition. No kid deserves being beaten for any reason, in school or at home.
Kilmer and Brooks, Co-Chairs of Bipartisan Working Group, Introduce Fixes to Ongoing VA Healthcare Challenges
Press release issued 2/ 19/ 19 (link source)WASHINGTON, DC—Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Susan W. Brooks (R-IN), co-chairs of the Bipartisan Working Group (BPWG) have re-introduced a bipartisan package of fixes to ongoing challenges faced by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in delivering quality care to veterans. The solutions stem from a series of Government Accountability Office (GAO) studies that uncovered problems at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
Last Congress, members of the BPWG met with the GAO to learn more about their oversight of VA healthcare programs and the VA’s ongoing efforts to adopt best practices. So far, the VA has failed to fully implement hundreds of GAO recommendations for improving access to care and management of VHA facilities.
“We owe it to those who have served our nation to not let partisanship or gridlock get in the way of providing veterans the care they have earned,” said Kilmer. “The Bipartisan Working Group is committed to finding consensus and solving problems, like those that have been plaguing the VA. I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues from both parties on this legislation.”
“Supporting our nation’s both male and female veterans and working to ensure they receive better access to the services and care they’ve earned is a priority on both sides of the aisle. The Accountability for Quality VA Healthcare Act works to improve the VA’s broken system so that we can better serve our veterans. I’m proud the Bipartisan Working Group is dedicated to solving problems together and providing our veterans with the care they deserve,” said Brooks.
The Accountability for Quality VA Healthcare Act (HR 1125) would require the VA to implement some of the highest-priority recommendations identified by the GAO, including:
Physical Security at VA Medical Facilities: This provision creates a pilot project that would bolster security at VHA facilities.
Align VA facilities with the Needs of Veterans: This initiative requires a report from the VA Secretary within 90 days of enactment that evaluates facilities across the department and whether they need to be changed to better help veterans.
CBOC Leasing Handbook: This directs the creation of an updated handbook on best practices to ensure that the process for opening new outpatient clinics runs smoothly.
Improve Access to Care for Our Female Veterans Act: This section ensures the VHA conducts thorough inspections of medical facilities to make sure they have necessary medical supplies and equipment for women, who represent nearly 15 percent of the Armed Forces currently serving.
Veterans Wait Times: This initiative revamps the VHA’s scheduling department. It would require a routine assessment for scheduling needs and a clear strategy on how to retain employees in this space and make sure technology is up to date.
VA Nursing Recruitment and Retention Improvement: This section establishes an annual report that would provide information on whether the VHA is hiring and keeping enough qualified nurses.
Founded in 2011, the Bipartisan Working Group is an informal member organization that seeks to address policy problems in a respectful and open-minded fashion. Meeting once a week, representatives from both political parties build relationships across the aisle by supporting member initiatives, discussing each other’s perspectives on pending legislation, and developing solutions to mutually identified issues.
WORLD NEWS🌏 HEADLINES
( From the UN News Center & other sources)Moving from a promise made in Sweden towards hope for peace in Yemen.
“Significant progress” is being made in implementing the deal reached in Stockholm last December between Government and Houthi leaders in Yemen, according to United Nations Special Envoy Martin Griffiths.
UN agriculture agency chief calls on world’s mayors to make ‘global commitments local realities’
At a time of rapid urbanization, cities face challenges that are global in nature but require “the full engagement of local authorities” for multilateral solutions, the head of the United Nations agriculture agency told a special gathering of mayors on Tuesday.
Not enough resettlement solutions for refugees worldwide, says UN.
Despite record numbers of people forcibly displaced across borders, with 1.2 million in need of a new permanent place to call home last year, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) released new data on Tuesday showing that only 55,700 of them – 4.7 per cent – were able to be resettled in 2018.
UN rights chief ‘alarmed’ by upsurge in attacks against civilians in Syria’s Idlib.
Civilians in Syria's north-western city of idlib continue to be used “as pawns”, caught in the crossfire of bombardments by the Government and its allies, and attacks by non-State armed groups, the United Nations human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, warned on Tuesday.
Myanmar and UN agriculture agency agree framework to improve nutrition and food security.
The Myanmar Government and the UN’s agriculture agency signed on Tuesday a multi-year agreement that will create conditions to help improve nutrition and food security in the south-east Asian country, while safeguarding and sustainably managing the use of natural resources.
🌍IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION🌎
PAGE 2
WH: Text of Space Policy Directive-4: Establishment of the United States Space Force.
PAGE 3
Remarks by President Trump on the National Security and Humanitarian Crisis on our Southern Border.
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Miami Medical Clinic Owner Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud Scheme
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Mississippi Woman Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud, Money Laundering and Tax Evasion Charges for Role in $200 Million Compounding Pharmacy Scheme.
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Members of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Announced
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Inslee responds to loss of dairy cows in Yakima County with emergency funding.
NIGHT OWL COMICS PRESENTS
