Saturday, October 19, 2019

As House Impeachment Inquiry Continues, Senator Murray Outlines President Trump’s Grave Threats to American Democracy, Security.

Press release issued 10. 17. 19
(Washington, D.C.) – This morning, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) emphasized the importance of a complete and thorough investigation by the U.S. House of Representatives into President Trump’s repeated attempts to invite foreign interference in our elections, and whether President Trump or any of his associates committed high crimes or misdemeanors in the process. During a speech on the Senate floor, Senator Murray also shined a spotlight on the threat President Trump’s reckless behavior poses to our nation’s security and the foundations of our democracy.

Key excerpts from Senator Murray’s remarks:

“Our nation is at a crossroads that strikes at the heart of our democracy. The increasingly outrageous actions of this President and his administration have brought us to this moment, where we—as a nation—must make a decision about who we are, what we stand for, and what kind of behavior we will allow at the highest levels of our government.”

The President has repeatedly sought foreign interference in our elections, which we should all find appalling . These facts are indisputable and can’t be spun—President Trump and his circle of friends have been clear about their actions and their intentions, and it is clear they are unacceptable.”

“For me and for so many other people across the country—this is not about partisan politics or any politics. This is about maintaining our nation’s security and defending the rule of law. It is about nothing less than the future of our democracy.”

“Based just on what we know, it would be a dereliction of duty for Congress not to investigate the grave threats to our country’s safety and to our democratic institutions, and if President Trump and his administration have nothing to hide, they should stop obstructing—let Congress do its job to find all the facts.”

“Will we allow foreign actors to interfere in our elections and undermine our security—or not? Will we stand by and allow this President, and perhaps future presidents, to ignore our Constitution and mangle our democratic norms—or not? Will we be a nation of laws—or not? I believe that this country is a country of laws, that our elections must be completely free from foreign interference, and that every elected official should ensure these fundamental principles come before party or partisanship as this process moves forward.”

“If and when the House elects to accuse the president of an impeachable offense or offenses, the Senate, right here, will host the trial and as Senators we will serve as jurors. If and when that time comes, I know I will approach it seriously, and I deeply hope each of my colleagues will, too.



A ground-up approach to baking.
WSDA press release issued 10. 14. 19

When Barn Owl Bakery owner Sage Dilts explains the potential health benefits of the wild sourdough starter and heritage grains she uses in her artisan breads, she astutely points out -- the digestion process begins when you smell the food.
“That’s when you start salivating,” she says.
Walk into her tiny Lopez Island bakery and you’ll see what she means. The rich aroma of her craft bread, fresh out of the wood-fired oven, is sure to make your mouth water.

Wild Starter
Dilts says the yeast and bacteria in her wild leaven (or sourdough starter) provide the complex flavors that make the bread taste so good, and they also help break down parts of the grains that can be hard to digest, allowing the body to better absorb the nutrients.
She is committed to using locally grown and milled grains and even grows her own specialty and heritage varieties of wheat, rye and barley that add to the distinctive flavors in her loaves.

In the 200-square-foot bakery she and her husband Nathan Hodges built in 2012, she has established a thriving niche market on the islands with baked goods made in ways she believes are healthy for the body and the planet.

Farm to Food Competition

This year, Dilts won the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Foundation’s Women’s Farm to Food Competition. The contest is dedicated to fostering growth among women producers (i.e., farmers, fishers, ranchers) and women entrepreneurs with food and beverage businesses in Oregon and Washington.

When competitors presented their business plans at NASDA’s Winter Policy Conference in Washington DC in February, WSDA Director Derek Sandison presented Dilts the $20,000 Grand Prize and promised to visit to the Barn Owl Bakery.

Last week he followed up on his commitment and made the trip to the remote island in Northwest Washington.

Sandison said this type of competition and the awards are important because they help promote diversity in agriculture.

 “We are trying to encourage women to enter agriculture and for them to thrive once they are in it,” Sandison said.

A big challenge

“Particularly for small-scale operations, you have to develop your own markets,” Sandison said. “It’s not just that you have to grow or produce something, but you then have to find a way to market that product.”
Dilts and her husband Nathan Hodges moved from the San Francisco Bay area eight years ago and set up shop on this laid-back island known for its artists, craftspeople, farmers, and fishermen. The area’s tight-knit, open-minded community was the perfect business micro-climate to start a bakery embracing ancient baking and farming methods, and adhering to Dilts’s ideals about health and nutrition.

Dilts makes her bread by hand from scratch using no commercial yeast or chemical leavening. Instead she maintains and relies on a wild leaven, rich with bacteria and yeasts, to impart flavor and nutrition to her breads and pastries.

A world of wheat varieties

Hodges, her husband, zealously experiments with heirloom grains trying to identify varieties that grow well in the area and taste good in the bread.

“There’s all these crazy flavors,” Hodges said. “It takes three or four years for us to get enough seed to mill up to actually taste the grain. So there’s always that moment where it’s like, what’s this one going to be? Sometimes it’s not that interesting but other times it’s really wild!”
In the past four years he had planted more than 50 varieties in search of a seed like the Ethiopian Blue Tinge emmer wheat, for example. His crop notes describe it as grain that threshes easily with an intriguing dark purple seed that makes a dough that darkens to the color of chocolate.

“In our baking trials, this is always a crowd favorite for taste,” he notes.

Hodges and Dilts hope to cultivate the connection between food and the land as part of their business model.

“Modern wheats tend to be ill-suited to our form of agriculture here,” he said. “We don’t water our wheats, we don’t fertilize our wheats, and our soils are relatively poor. But the older wheats, like the Landrace varieties, are perfectly suited to that form of agriculture because that’s the way they were grown for thousands of years.”
The right niche

The Barn Owl Bakery’s business model may not be suited to other bakeries. They run a bakery with no counter help and customers pick out their own purchases and pay on the honor system in an open bowl on the baking rack.

But on this low-key, high-minded island, it seems to be working.

In fact, the bakery is expanding. Dilts can make 25 loaves an hour in her Allan Scott style wood-fired oven, but even with 13 hours of baking a day, that’s not enough bread to keep up with demand.

With the prize money from the NASDA Foundation competition, she is upgrading to a Bassanina wood-burning deck oven that will allow her to quadruple output.



WORLD NEWS HEADLINES
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Tuberculosis infections declining, but not fast enough among poor, marginalized: UN health agency
A staggering 1.5 million people died from tuberculosis (TB) last year, the UN health agency said on Thursday, in an appeal for far greater funding and political support to eradicate the curable and preventable disease.

Ending extreme poverty crucial to sustainable future for all: UN chief.
A sustainable future for all is unlikely unless globalization benefits all children, their families and communities, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, on Thursday.

Ingredients for a new life: how cooking helps refugees and migrants blend in.
On a Friday afternoon, in a small restaurant kitchen in the New York borough of Brooklyn, head chef Alexander Harris is giving instructions to his attentive team, preparing them for the busy evening ahead. So far, the tables are empty, but the small, popular space, with just a handful of tables - and some stools around the bar - will soon be bustling with the evening crowd.

Business leaders join UN to rev up sustainable development investments
In a bid to scale up investment efforts to reach sustainable development targets, the Secretary-General on Wednesday convened the first meeting of a new UN-backed corporate alliance to discuss plans for spending on sustainability, likely to be in the trillions of dollars.

Soaring obesity rates, sustainable development funding alliance, new UN office to support Haiti
 Poor global diets triggering obesity; cancer incidents expected to rise indicates new 'atlas'; CEOs join UN to tackle SDG funding; New UN Mission launches in Haiti; to blend better into Big Apple life, NYC restaurant gives migrants, refugees and fresh start.
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IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION
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PAGE 2

Cantwell, Gallego Blast Administration Move to Open Up Old-Growth Logging in Tongass


PAGE 3
Congress to Consider Fish Farming Legislation – Cantwell Highlights Need for Safety, Citing 2017 Salmon Spill in Puget Sound.


 PAGE 4

Southern California Doctor Found Guilty in $12 Million Medicare Fraud and Device Adulteration Scheme. 



PAGE 5

Payroll hiring continues to slow in September; unemployment rate unchanged.


PAGE 6
ICYMI: In Visits Across Clark, Kitsap, and King Counties, Senator Murray Highlights Her Work to Fight for Families, Veterans, and Patients.



PAGE 7

Labor & Industries cites three employers for multiple violations connected with fatal Seattle crane collapse.

NEWS STORY COMMENTARY:

SUDDENLY...THE DEMOCRATS FAVOR LONG TERM WARS?!


Saturday, October 12, 2019

Kilmer, House Democrats Introduce SHIELD Act to Combat Foreign Interference in American Elections




Press release issued 10. 8. 19

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and leading House Democrats introduced legislation to combat foreign interference in American elections. The Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act will close loopholes that allow foreign spending in our elections, boost disclosure and transparency requirements with the inclusion of Kilmer’s Honest Ads Act, and create a duty to report illicit offers of campaign assistance from foreign nations or governments.

“Foreign interests shouldn’t be able to influence American elections, period,” said Rep. Kilmer. “With countless intelligence assessments confirming vulnerabilities in the American election system, and another election just over a year away, it’s vital that both sides of the aisle come together to take real action to fix the loopholes and protect our elections from foreign interference. I’m proud to see the Honest Ads Act included in this bill to ensure Americans know who is paying for the online ads they are seeing and to make it harder for foreign actors to use the internet to attack our democracy. Congress should take action to further protect our democracy without delay.”

“Most Americans know that foreign governments have no business interfering in our elections,” said Committee on House Administration Chairperson Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). “Instead, the Trump campaign and White House have welcomed and repeatedly solicited foreign assistance for his political activities. This behavior is unacceptable, and it is telling that the White House has gone to great lengths to hide it from the American people. The SHIELD Act will protect our elections from foreign interference by closing loopholes that allow dishonest behavior, increasing disclosure and transparency requirements, and ensuring that individuals engaging in conduct with foreign actors intending to influence the outcome of our elections will be held accountable by law.”

“Foreign adversaries attacked our elections in 2016 and they’re coming for us again in 2020,” said Congressman John Sarbanes, Chair of the Democracy Reform Task Force. “House Democrats have moved quickly to protect our democracy from foreign interference. As our first order of business, we passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which would modernize election infrastructure across the country, help block illicit foreign political activity online and crack down on secret foreign money and lobbying in our politics. We also swiftly passed the SAFE Act (H.R. 2722), a bill to help states upgrade and secure their voting systems. Today, we’re introducing The SHIELD Act, a bill to root out foreign influence, disinformation and interference in our elections. Senate Republicans and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell must take up these critical national security bills as soon as possible. There’s no time to waste.”

The SHIELD Act of 2019:

Creates a duty to report illicit offers of campaign assistance from foreign governments and their agents.
Helps prevent foreign interference in future elections by improving transparency of online political advertisements.
Closes loopholes that allow foreign nationals and foreign governments to spend in U.S. elections.
Restricts exchange of campaign information between candidates and foreign governments and their agents.
Prohibits deceptive practices about voting procedures.
Click here for a two-page summary of the SHIELD Act.




The SHIELD Act is sponsored by Committee on House Administration Chairperson Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and cosponsored by Representatives John P. Sarbanes (D-Md.), Chair of the Democracy Reform Task Force, Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), Chair of the New Democrat Coalition, Stephanie N. Murphy (D-Fla.), Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Caucus, Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Susan A. Davis (D-Calif.), G. K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio), Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.), and Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.).

The Honest Ads Act (H.R. 2592) is co-sponsored by 18 Democrats and 18 Republicans in the House. Companion legislation in the Senate was also introduced by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence,

The Honest Ads Act was included in H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2019, a sweeping package of reform bills co-sponsored by Rep. Kilmer and passed by the House in March 2019. The For the People Act of 2019 aims to strengthen the voice of the American people in their democracy by making it easier to vote, ending the dominance of big money in the political process, and ensuring public officials work for the public interest.



Fife High School receives national award for fostering inclusion to support students with disabilities.

From the governor's medium page posted on 10/ 4/ 19

The noise at Fife High School’s gymnasium this week was so loud that you had to yell in your neighbor’s ear just to be heard.
The student body gathered to cheer on their basketball team. And no one cared who won or lost. That’s because Fife’s Unified Basketball team is made up of students with and without disabilities, and making the student athletes feel like they belonged on the court was more important than winning.

Gov. Jay Inslee congratulated Fife High School students and educators Wednesday during a school assembly for winning a national award, saying all Washington schools need to follow Fife’s lead and embrace the spirit of inclusivity. ESPN and Special Olympics chose Fife High School as one of the top five schools in the nation that uphold the 10 national standards for student inclusion. A “unified school” is a school where students with and without disabilities play together.
“We’re celebrating together because you’ve created a school environment that is accepting of all type of talents and identities,” Inslee said. “I’m incredibly proud of this school. In your younger years, you’re becoming the kind of people that some adults still strive to be in their older years. I hope you always look for ways take care of people around you because that’s what builds strong communities.”

Now a Top 5 National Banner Unified Champion School, much of Fife High School’s inclusion efforts initially came about because of Fife senior Zoie Breland. She wanted students with disabilities to participate in sports with the rest of Fife’s student athletes. So, Breland researched what it would take to bring the Unified Sports program to Fife during her eighth grade year. She started a club, organized meetings, encouraged students to pack the stands at these sporting events, and applied for a grant from the Special Olympics to help with the program funding.

Brandon Bakke, Fife High School principal, said Fife High School is committed to the pursuit of inclusivity.
“We are not perfect, but as Special Olympics puts it, we are ‘on the right track,’” Bakke said. “We’re committed to overcoming the fear of difference and replacing it with the power of inclusion. We are a school filled with students from all walks of life, from different cultures and ethnicities, who are committed to becoming a Fife family.”
Last week, the governor asked a panel of education experts at a Results Washington meeting how to help students with disabilities succeed. While their success depends on a variety of factors, two of the most important are having supportive mentors in and outside of school, and fostering an inclusive school community.

Aaron James, college student, attended the Results Washington with his mother, Sarah, who has been an educator for 36 years. Aaron will earn his associate degree this year and plans to one day earn his bachelor’s as well. He also works part-time at Walmart. As a kindergartner at Summitview Elementary School, he signed up for karate to build up his relationships and continues the activity as an adult. He graduated from high school where he was successful in all of his general education classes with the exception of math — he got support for that one.
What sets him apart from many of his peers is that he accomplished all of this with a learning disability. Aaron told the governor that he succeeded in part because of his support network from advocates like his mother and teachers.
“They set me on a path that would lead me to success,” Aaron said. “And I believe challenges make you stronger in the long run.”

Sarah said she worked with Aaron’s teachers to find out what his issues were. Early on, Sarah had him assessed with the special education department.
“No parent ever wants a child to have a disability,” Sarah said. “It was a process. Once Aaron had a diagnosis, we met with the team and got the appropriate services. For the most part, his teachers all the way through both in the general education program and special education program were fabulous.”
That support network aligns with a gentle push for more inclusive school communities.
“It takes leadership to have a teacher in the classroom to do this but the impact on these students is enormous,” Inslee said. “Creating this culture in a school setting will set up our children with healthy support systems and help them with long-term success.”

Fostering inclusion is about creating a sense of belonging and increasing student access to high-quality instruction for students with disabilities. Cynthia Hollimon, K-12 budget assistant to the governor, said an important part of inclusion is keeping all students together when possible.
“Research has shown that students with disabilities have better outcomes academically and social-emotionally when they are educated with their peers in the regular classroom to the greatest extent possible,” Hollimon said.
Inslee has made special education a priority during his administration. He has proposed increased funding for both the special education formula provided to schools and the safety net that provides specific accommodation to students. The Legislature increased the formula last session and provided funds for professional development to increase educators’ skills in inclusive instruction.
Washington’s 2020 Teacher of the Year, Amy Campbell, fosters inclusion in her work as a special education teacher at Helen Baller Elementary School in Camas. She focuses on student’s’ strengths instead of deficits and promotes meaningful, inclusive relationships among students with and without disabilities.

Glenna Gallo — assistant superintendent of Special Education Services at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction — said while not every student can thrive in a traditional classroom, we need to acknowledge that we can do better with inclusion efforts.
“We’re seeing students removed from traditional class each year,” Gallo said. “Those students have a right to be with their peers.”
Based on post-school survey results, many students with disabilities drop out of school as a result of issues such as mental health needs, bullying, and unmet academic and behavioral needs.
Kris Hirschmann, director of transition services at the Center for Change in Transition Services at Seattle University, said the center helps collect data on students one year after they leave school. Data shows that if a student with a disability stays in school and graduates (because of support networks, an inclusive environment, a mentoring adult, etc.), then the student is more likely to move to the next growth phase of adulthood. This may include being employed, going to college, living independently and being part of their community.

“Inclusion in general education is a huge predictor of success,” Hirschmann said.
Carrie Basas is the director at the Governor’s Office at the Education Ombuds, an agency that works to reduce the opportunity gap in the K-12 system. Basas said being inclusive means celebrating all of the identities students bring to the table. She experienced the opposite of this growing up in Maryland. While she didn’t experience a mental or learning disability, she was placed in a separate program until third grade for students with disabilities because of her physical disability. It’s one reason why she didn’t feel included during her early years of school.
“We say special needs but they are really human needs,” Basas said. “I was bussed to another town to attend school in a separate program just for students with disabilities of all kinds. There was little to no differentiation in instruction based on student needs. My neighborhood school was across the street from my house. I was able to attend that school in third grade after much advocacy from my parents.”

Basas said many people were never taught how to talk about disabilities or even encouraged to learn about how they affect student peers. This ignorance can lead to disability discrimination, or ableism, which can also discourage communities to include people with disabilities.
Scott McCallum, superintendent at the Washington State School for the Blind said factors such as accessibility and inclusivity cannot be an afterthought when working with students with disabilities. In fact, these two things can’t be understated because they ultimately benefit everyone when recognized.

“Often, the most disabling aspect of being blind or visually impaired are the low expectations and limitations placed on them by others,” he said during last week’s meeting, stating that he gets emotional about this topic.
Inslee wants to explore how to increase the educator workforce for students who are visually impaired or hard of hearing, and explore ways to offer more resources to help students with disabilities stay on track with their learning and graduate.
“We know the incredible things these students are capable of and getting this type of assistance from communities is life-changing,” Inslee said. “I appreciate everyone in our schools who work to foster an inclusive, supportive environment for these students.”






WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:
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Afghanistan probe: ‘at least 60 civilians’ killed after US military airstrikes on alleged drug labs.
“Multiple” airstrikes by the US military on alleged methamphetamine drug labs in a remote area of western Afghanistan earlier this year, killed or injured dozens of civilians who should not have been treated as military targets, the UN said on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/10/1048851

DR Congo political leaders urged to support ‘winds of change’
Recent positive trends could help transform the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) into a stable country, the head of the UN operation there told the Security Council on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/10/1048891

Alarming number of women mistreated during childbirth, new UN health agency figures show
More than a third of women surveyed across four lower-income countries, reported being mistreated during childbirth, a new study led by the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/10/1048842

UN chief urges ‘maximum restraint’ following policy shift over northeastern Syria
The UN chief on Tuesday expressed “great concern” over recent policy statements made regarding northeastern Syria, following the announcement from the United States at the start of the week, that it would withdraw troops from the area close to the border with Turkey.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/10/1048812

Dangerous nationalism’ seriously threatens efforts to tackle statelessness: UNHCR chief
Hate speech and misguided nationalism present a serious threat to efforts to tackle statelessness, despite growing public awareness of the problem, UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said on Monday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/10/1048722

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IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION:

PAGE 2

Cantwell, Colleagues Press Trump Administration to Protect Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions

PAGE 3

AG FERGUSON’S INITIATIVE TO END NO-POACH CLAUSES NATIONWIDE REACHES 100 CORPORATE CHAINS.



PAGE 4

Ecology finds application incomplete for Kalama methanol project.



PAGE 5

USDA Announces $16.2 Million to Support Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers

PAGE 6

Cantwell Pushes FTC for Information on Facebook Settlement.

PAGE 7

DNR Releases New Maps to Help Residents Walk to Tsunami Safety.

NEWS STORY COMMENTARY: TRUMP GAVE A GREAT SPEECH IN Minneapolis, MN.
 You wouldn't know that from the headlines of the Democrat press.






Saturday, October 5, 2019

Cantwell, Colleagues Press Trump Administration to Protect Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions

Letter signed by 40 senators calls for Trump administration to restrict “junk” health insurance plans and harmful state waivers.
Press release issued on 10. 4. 19


WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined 39 of her Senate colleagues in calling out the Trump administration on its actions to undermine health insurance protections for Americans with pre-existing medical conditions. The letter calls on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to protect people with pre-existing conditions and limit short-term “junk” health insurance plans that lack essential benefits and financial protections.

“We have heard from patients, physicians, independent experts, and other health care stakeholders that individuals with pre-existing conditions are being negatively impacted by your administration’s actions. More recently, we have seen the real world negative impact on individuals who have unknowingly enrolled in these deceptively marketed junk plans,” wrote the senators.

In the letter, they pointed to stories of Americans harmed by the proliferation of junk health insurance plans.

“Just this month, Bloomberg reported Arizona resident David Diaz unknowingly purchased a short-term health plan that did not cover pre-existing conditions and placed ambiguous limits on emergency room care and other essential health care services,” the senators continued. “His family has been left with hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt. The Washington Post similarly reported on Jesse Lynn, who purchased a short-term health plan not realizing his back problem would be considered a pre-existing condition. Jesse’s insurance company refused to cover his care – forcing his family into bankruptcy.”

The letter comes in response to a Trump administration rule that allows states to not uphold federal consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act, while using taxpayer dollars to subsidize junk insurance plans. Under this rule, states can allow insurance companies to discriminate against Americans with pre-existing conditions by increasing costs and limiting coverage. The benefits excluded from these junk plans can include prescription drugs, emergency room visits, maternity care, and mental health care.

“The administration’s rule on state waivers allows taxpayer dollars to go to these junk plans, accelerating the problems we are already seeing with junk plans and leaving fewer resources for people who purchase high quality insurance,” the letter continues. “Additionally, the administration’s new rule weakens coverage by allowing waivers that increase premiums and out-of-pocket costs for those who need health care most. We have worked tirelessly to protect individuals with pre-existing conditions from barriers to coverage. We urge you to do the same, including by limiting the proliferation of short-term junk plans and ensuring that consumers in every state are protected by federal consumer protections for people with pre-existing conditions.”

Senator Cantwell has long supported efforts to help Americans better afford health coverage while ensuring that plans cover essential benefits. She strongly opposed the Trump administration and congressional Republicans’ repeated efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and take health care access away from millions of Americans. Cantwell has previously spoken out on the Senate floor against junk health insurance plans, highlighting the harm they have caused to many Americans.

“The state of Washington tried this… a group of state legislators allowed these junk plans to be sold along with compliant plans. Guess what happened? Nearly all of the insurers in our state pulled out of the individual insurance market and a death spiral ensued. Why? Because the cost then of that individual market was so high and so great, they couldn't service it,” Cantwell said in the floor speech.



 EYMAN ASSOCIATES ORDERED TO PAY $1 MILLION IN AG CAMPAIGN FINANCE CASE.
Press release from the Washington State AG office. Issued 9. 30. 19

OLYMPIA — A Thurston County Superior Court judge late yesterday ordered for-profit signature gathering firm Citizen Solutions and its principal, William Agazarm, to collectively pay more than $1 million for their role in deceiving Washingtonians by funneling campaign donations to Tim Eyman.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a campaign finance lawsuit against all three defendants in 2017, accusing Citizen Solutions and Agazarm of unlawfully concealing a $308,185 payment to Eyman.

In his order, Judge James Dixon found that Agazarm “personally approved Citizen Solutions’ kickback payment” to Eyman, knowing that Eyman “planned to and, in fact, did use the funds for his own personal expenses and to support the signature gathering effort for a different Eyman-supported initiative, Initiative I-517.”

“The Court finds that the Citizen Solutions Defendants not only knew the extent of Defendant Eyman’s scheme, but actively assisted with his violations, helping him mislead contributors into believing their contributions would go to support ballot initiatives, when in fact, they were benefiting Defendant Eyman personally. Crucially, the Citizen Solutions Defendants assisted Defendant Eyman in laundering payments purportedly for signature gathering, which were made after the signature gathering was completed and accepted by the Citizen Solutions Defendants solely to conceal that they were being funneled to Defendant Eyman.”

The court concludes the violations “are particularly egregious, warranting a substantial penalty.”

“This judgment reflects the serious and intentional violations of Washington’s campaign finance laws committed by Mr. Agazarm and Citizen Solutions,” Ferguson said. “Mr. Agazarm and Citizen Solutions knowingly participated in a scheme to hide how contributions to Tim Eyman’s campaigns were really being used.”

Judge Dixon issued a default judgment Sept. 30 ordering:

Agazarm to pay $150,000 in civil penalties;
Citizen Solutions, LLC to pay $150,000 in civil penalties;
Agazarm and Citizen Solutions jointly to pay $117,500 in unpaid contempt sanctions; and
Agazarm and Citzen Solutions to pay $622,255.67 in costs and fees.
Altogether, the defendants owe a total of $1,039,755 67.

Investigation revealed long history of violations

The Attorney General’s investigation revealed that one of Citizen Solutions’ owners has a history of laundering campaign contributions to conceal from the public how those donations were being spent, going back more than a decade.

For example: In a 2010 letter, Eyman asked for a kickback to compensate him for providing the business of his own political committee, Voters Want More Choices. Eyman also proposed a scheme to increase the kickback payment by padding the price his committee would pay Citizen Solutions per signature for Initiative 1053.

Eyman wrote that the committee “agreed to have Citizen Solutions collect signatures for $2.00 each. Im [sic] doing my best to raise money from the business community at a rate of $2.50 per signature. My goal is to have Voters Want More Choices pay Citizen Solutions the agreed upon $2 per sig plus $150,000 so that you have an extra $150,000 to provide to me.”

Eyman forwarded an email from Citizen Solutions to donors that had originally quoted a price of $2 per signature for I-1053; however, Eyman’s forwarded version altered the price to $2.50.

Eyman created “gift schemes” for Citizens Solutions and its owners to funnel money to him. Records show numerous $13,000 payments to Eyman and members of his family from the owners of Citizen Solutions —  the amount that Eyman’s accountant told him was the maximum “gift” he could receive without it being reported to the IRS.

Eyman had Citizen Solutions’ owners divide his kickbacks among his wife, Karen, and their minor children, so none of the checks would be more than $13,000. According to Karen Eyman’s deposition, she and the children were unaware of the payments, even though the checks were made out to them.

Eyman wrote to one of the owners: “You generously gave me $9900 on September 22nd (and a nice bottle of champagne!!) so that leaves $35,100 for the rest of 2012 and still $39,000 for 2013. … I ask that you please schedule a few more lunches from now until December 31st so you can ‘max gift’ by the end of the year. You’re making great progress on this and I continue to be extremely grateful for your continued help on it.”

In a June 5, 2012 email to Citizen Solutions principals, Eyman proposed various schemes to increase his compensation, writing: “For the past 10 years, Citizen Solutions has hitched itself to the ‘Eyman bandwagon’ and it’s worked really well -- but I think it’ll be even better if I jump on the ‘Citizen Solutions bandwagon’ especially as we approach a post-517 initiative environment. I bring something to the table (non-stop initiative campaigns by me and diligent efforts to refer other clients to you) and you two bring something to the table (a successful petitioning operation). We’d be a great team.”

One proposal was an ongoing business partnership in which Eyman would share 1/3 of Defendant Citizen Solutions’ revenue. Alternatively, in his June 5, 2012 email, Eyman proposed that the company pay him $270,000 as a sales commission.

He wrote, “When it comes to the extra $270k, I’m working hard to get it for myself by having it paid to Citizen Solutions.”

Three weeks later, as part of the justification to be provided to Voters Want More Choices to increase their payments, Citizen Solutions would state that exactly that amount was “outstanding on the contract” for Initiative 1185 signatures.

Even after all I-1185 signatures had been paid for on July 3, 2012, Citizen Solutions continued to accept payments, including: $27,150 from the Washington Beer and Wine Distributors Association, $45,000 from the Association of Washington Business Political Action Committee, and $170,825 from Eyman’s committee, Voters Want More Choices.

Citizen Solutions forwarded 100 percent of the funds donated for I-1185 signature gathering after July 3, 2012 to Eyman.

Case history

In September of 2015, the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) referred the case to the Attorney General’s Office for enforcement. The chair of the PDC Commission described the case as “one of the most egregious the PDC has seen.”

In March of 2017, Ferguson filed the campaign finance lawsuit against Eyman, Agazarm and Citizen Solutions, alleging, on Eyman’s part, improper personal use of more than $300,000 in contributions made to political committees, concealment of more than $490,000 in contributions and misleading reporting. Additional concealed contributions were discovered during the state’s investigation since then. The lawsuit also accused Citizen Solutions of participating in a scheme to conceal campaign money the company funneled to Eyman.

On May 17, 2019, Judge Dixon issued a default order against Citizen Solutions, LLCand Agazarm, finding them liable for their role in the scheme. Prior to that, they had been in contempt of court for 456 days, accruing a total of $177,250 in sanctions for failing to comply with court-ordered discovery requirements.

Assistant Attorneys General Eric Newman, Todd Sipe and Paul Crisalli are handling the case.



AG FERGUSON’S INITIATIVE ENDS NO-POACH CLAUSES AT EIGHT MORE CORPORATE CHAINS WITH MORE THAN 1,400 LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE.
Press release issued 9. 30. 19

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced the latest progress in his initiative to end the use of no-poach clauses nationwide. In order to avoid a lawsuit, eight additional corporate chains eliminated their no-poach practices nationwide by entering into legally Worker Protection Initiative logoenforceable agreements to remove the clauses from franchise contracts. The eight chains have 45 locations in Washington and more than 1,400 locations nationwide. This brings the total number of corporate chains that have signed legally binding agreements with Ferguson to eliminate no-poach clauses from all their franchise agreements nationwide to 93, representing more than 140,000 locations.

Any Lab Test Now, Chuck E. Cheese’s, CruiseShipCenters, Engel & Völkers, Krispy Kreme, Mora Iced Creamery, Sizzler and Starcycle signed legally binding commitments to stop enforcing no-poach clauses, and to stop adding no-poach clauses to new franchise contracts. All eight must make these changes nationwide. In addition, they must amend existing franchise agreements in Washington state. The eight join 85 other corporations that have now signed legally enforceable agreements with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office to end the practice.

No-poach clauses appear in franchise agreements between owners of franchises and corporate headquarters. The clauses prohibit employees from moving among stores in the same corporate chain, a practice that economists believe stagnates wages. For example, the clauses would prohibit an employee at one Chuck E. Cheese’s location from accepting employment from another Chuck E. Cheese’s franchise location for higher pay.

With today’s announcement, Ferguson moves closer to his goal of eliminating no-poach clauses nationwide.

“In less than two years, we’ve stopped the use of no-poach clauses at almost 100 corporate chains nationwide,” Ferguson said. “In other words, these unfair clauses are being taken out of thousands of franchise contracts across the country. Millions of workers have benefited andwill continue to benefit from our initiative to unrig this system that hurts workers’ pay and mobility.”

Success of anti-no-poach initiative

Ferguson continues to investigate and obtain legally enforceable agreements from companies outside of the fast-food industry. Today’s agreements, filed in King County Superior Court, include companies within the travel, real estate and restaurant industries.

This group builds on Ferguson’s announcement in October 2018 of the first corporations outside the fast-food industry anywhere in the country to enter into legally enforceable agreements with Ferguson or any other state attorney general to end no-poach practices. Ferguson will continue to pursue other corporate chains across a wide range of industries.

To avoid a lawsuit, the following corporate chains entered into legally binding commitments to eliminate no-poach clauses nationwide:

Any Lab Test Now (6 Washington locations, estimated 112 locations nationwide)
Chuck E. Cheese’s (11 Washington locations, estimated 500 locations nationwide)
CruiseShipCenters (8 Washington locations, estimated 99 locations nationwide)
Engel & Völkers (3 Washington locations, estimated 165 locations nationwide)
Krispy Kreme (8 Washington locations, estimated 343 locations nationwide)
Mora Iced Creamery (4 Washington locations, estimated 8 locations nationwide)
Sizzler (3 Washington locations, estimated 112 locations nationwide)
Starcycle (2 Washington locations, estimated 10 locations nationwide)
These corporations will no longer include no-poach language in new franchise agreements. Additionally, the companies will no longer enforce no-poach provisions currently included in franchise agreements at more than 1,400 locations nationwide where tens of thousands of workers are employed. Finally, the companies must remove current no-poach clauses from their Washington contracts in the next 60 to 120 days, and their nationwide contracts as they come up for renewal.

Any Lab Test Now, Chuck E. Cheese’s, Krispy Kreme and Sizzler stopped adding no-poach provisions to their franchise agreements before the Attorney General’s investigation into the companies began. The companies’ legally binding commitment ensures that all four will remove no-poach clauses from existing franchise agreements and cannot use the clauses again in the future.

No-poach lawsuit

In October 2018, Ferguson filed his first lawsuit against restaurant chain Jersey Mike’s for its use of no-poach clauses. Unlike dozens of other corporate chains, Jersey Mike’s refused to enter into a legally binding agreement to end these practices nationwide, and Ferguson filed a lawsuit against the company.

Ferguson resolved that lawsuit in August. In order to avoid trial, Jersey Mike’s ultimately agreed to eliminate no poach clauses from all its corporate franchise agreements, and also paid the state of Washington $150,000. Had Jersey Mike’s agreed to Ferguson’s original offer, they would not have had to make any payment to the state of Washington.

Background on Ferguson’s initiative to eliminate no-poach clauses

As a result of Ferguson’s initiative to eliminate no-poach clauses, 93 chains have signed legally binding commitments to end no-poach practices nationwide at an estimated 143,000 locations. The changes benefit millions of workers across the U.S.

The initiative began with a September 2017 article in the New York Times titled “Why Aren’t Paychecks Growing? A Burger-Joint Clause Offers a Clue.” The article focused on the downward pressure no-poach agreements among fast-food franchises place on wages. After reading the article, Solicitor General Noah Purcell referred the subject to Attorney General Ferguson. The article cited research by Princeton economists Alan Krueger and Orley Ashenfelter highlighting the harms to workers caused by the practice.

Professors Krueger and Ashenfelter examined franchise agreements for 156 of the largest franchise companies in the United States. The franchise agreements for companies with more than 500 locations operating in the U.S. were analyzed for any language “restricting the recruitment and hiring of employees from other units within the franchise company.”

The economists assert that “no-poach” clauses reduce opportunities for low-wage workers and stagnate wages, harming workers in Washington and across the nation.

In January 2018, Ferguson’s Antitrust Division launched an investigation into no-poach clauses. The Attorney General’s Office investigated the corporations on the economists’ list to determine which fast-food companies used no-poach clauses and were present and employed people in Washington. Out of the original restaurants the Antitrust Division contacted, three chains — Hissho Sushi, Long John Silver’s and Wendy’s — did not use no-poach provisions in their franchise contracts. In addition to the companies announced today, Ferguson negotiated an end to no-poach practices with 46 corporate chains in 2018, including McDonald’s, Anytime Fitness, Sport Clips and La Quinta. Ferguson’s initiative has continued this year with 47 more chains. For more information, click here.

In September 2018, Ferguson announced that he was expanding his investigation to industries beyond fast-food restaurants, starting with all the remaining companies on Krueger and Ashenfelter’s list. Ferguson also announced that he was beginning to investigate fast-food chains that economists Krueger and Ashenfelter did not include in their analysis because they have fewer than 500 stores nationwide. The first chains outside of the restaurant industry to end no-poach practices included gyms, automotive services and convenience stores.

Corporate chains that do not agree to end the practice face a lawsuit from Ferguson’s office. In October 2018, the Attorney General filed the first lawsuit by a state attorney general against a company for using no-poach clauses. That case resolved in August 2019.

The investigation now continues across several industries that utilize no-poach clauses in their franchise contracts, including:

Automotive services
Child care
Cleaning services
Convenience stores
Custom window treatment services
Electronics repair services
Home healthcare services
Hotels
Insurance adjustor services
Parcel services
Tax preparation
Travel services
Since the investigation began in early 2018, Ferguson’s Antitrust Division has successfully negotiated an elimination of no-poach clauses at 93 companies nationwide, including the eight announced today.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Mark and Assistant Attorneys General Eric Newman, Rahul Rao and Justin Wade of the Attorney General’s Antitrust Division are leading the no-poach initiative.

The Office of the Attorney General's Antitrust Division is responsible for enforcing the antitrust provisions of Washington's Unfair Business Practices-Consumer Protection Act. The division investigates and litigates complaints of anticompetitive conduct and reviews potentially anticompetitive mergers. The division also brings actions in federal court under the federal antitrust laws. It receives no general fund support, funding its own actions through recoveries made in other cases.

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WORLD NEWS HEADLINES
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Athens urged to fast track asylum seekers amid island shelters crisis – UNHCR
A spike in the number of refugees reaching Greek island reception centres is likely to worsen the situation in already “dangerously overcrowded” facilities there, the UN refugee agency said on Tuesday.

Strict alcohol laws which cut intake more than 40 per cent in Russia, linked to historically high life expectancy.
Strict laws put in place by the Russian authorities since 2003 have resulted in a significant drop in alcohol-related deaths nationwide, a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed on Tuesday.

WHO and UNICEF in campaign to protect 1.6 million in Sudan from cholera
UN agencies are working with the authorities in Sudan to protect more than one million people from cholera, an infectious disease which can kill within hours if left untreated.

UN expresses concern following wave of street protests in Iraq and elsewhere
The United Nations is urging authorities in Iraq to allow citizens to exercise their right to freedom of expression after the security forces opened fire on mass anti-government protests which began earlier this week.

Ground-breaking clean air protocol to guard human health and the planet, enters into force.
European and North American countries will take a major stride in cleaning up the atmosphere next Monday, 7 October, through the implementation of an amended legally binding treaty to limit the amount of emissions polluting the air.

FIFA and UN kick off healthy living campaign, to harness global game’s ‘huge potential’
At a ceremony held in Geneva on Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) and football’s world governing body, FIFA, announced that they are teaming up to raise awareness of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

UN commits to help Pacific island agriculture adapt and survive climate crisis.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) pledged on Friday to work hand in hand with the people of the Pacific to improve nutrition, and mitigate the worst effects of climate change, which pose an existential threat to many island nations across the region.

‘We need to stand up now’ for the elderly: urges UN rights expert on World Day.
In the coming decade, the number of persons aged 60 or over is projected to grow by 46 per cent, making the increase in those officially classified as elderly, one of the “most significant transformations of this century,'' the United Nations declared on Tuesday, marking the International Day of Older Persons.

Constitutional Committee breakthrough offers ‘sign of hope’ for long-suffering Syrians.
There is a “sign of hope for the long-suffering Syrian people” as a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned, credible and inclusive Constitutional Committee is set to start deliberations next month, the United Nations Special Envoy for the country told the Security Council on Monday.



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IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION
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PAGE 2

Cantwell, Colleagues Call for Inquiry into Uber, Lyft’s Continued Use of Vehicles with Open Safety Recalls.


PAGE 3
CONGRESSMAN KILMER ON TRUMP IMPEACHMENT.


PAGE 4

Inslee, Ferguson statement on appeals court decision on net neutrality.




PAGE 5

Treasury Department and FHFA Modify Terms of Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.



PAGE 6

Cantwell Announces New Federal Funding for Green Lake Community Boathouse Upgrade Project




PAGE 7
Kilmer, Brooks Introduce Legislation to Give Students in Need Access to More Financial Aid.
https://pr2345.blogspot.com/p/page-7.html

Saturday, September 28, 2019

WHILE TRUMP DELIVERED HIS SPEECH TO THE UN...

House Speaker Pelosi bows to the whims of the House, launches impeachment inqury. In other words a coup by impeachment.

Monday was a full news day started with the fallowing remarks by President Trump at the UN:
Remarks by President Trump to the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Posted on the White House page on 9. 25. 19

PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Thank you very much.  Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, distinguished delegates, ambassadors, and world leaders:

Seven decades of history have passed through this hall, in all of their richness and drama.  Where I stand, the world has heard from presidents and premiers at the height of the Cold War.  We have seen the foundation of nations.  We have seen the ringleaders of revolution.  We have beheld saints who inspired us with hope, rebels who stirred us with passion, and heroes who emboldened us with courage — all here to share plans, proposals, visions, and ideas on the world’s biggest stage.

Like those who met us before, our time is one of great contests, high stakes, and clear choices.  The essential divide that runs all around the world and throughout history is once again thrown into stark relief.  It is the divide between those whose thirst for control deludes them into thinking they are destined to rule over others and those people and nations who want only to rule themselves.

I have the immense privilege of addressing you today as the elected leader of a nation that prizes liberty, independence, and self-government above all.  The United States, after having spent over two and a half trillion dollars since my election to completely rebuild our great military, is also, by far, the world’s most powerful nation.  Hopefully, it will never have to use this power.

Americans know that in a world where others seek conquest and domination, our nation must be strong in wealth, in might, and in spirit.  That is why the United States vigorously defends the traditions and customs that have made us who we are.

Like my beloved country, each nation represented in this hall has a cherished history, culture, and heritage that is worth defending and celebrating, and which gives us our singular potential and strength.

The free world must embrace its national foundations.  It must not attempt to erase them or replace them.

Looking around and all over this large, magnificent planet, the truth is plain to see: If you want freedom, take pride in your country.  If you want democracy, hold on to your sovereignty.  And if you want peace, love your nation.  Wise leaders always put the good of their own people and their own country first.

The future does not belong to globalists.  The future belongs to patriots.  The future belongs to sovereign and independent nations who protect their citizens, respect their neighbors, and honor the differences that make each country special and unique.

It is why we in the United States have embarked on an exciting program of national renewal.  In everything we do, we are focused on empowering the dreams and aspirations of our citizens.

Thanks to our pro-growth economic policies, our domestic unemployment rate reached its lowest level in over half a century.  Fueled by massive tax cuts and regulations cuts, jobs are being produced at a historic rate.  Six million Americans have been added to the employment rolls in under three years.

Last month, African American, Hispanic American, and Asian American unemployment reached their lowest rates ever recorded. We are marshaling our nation’s vast energy abundance, and the United States is now the number one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world.  Wages are rising, incomes are soaring, and 2.5 million Americans have been lifted out of poverty in less than three years.

As we rebuild the unrivaled might of the American military, we are also revitalizing our alliances by making it very clear that all of our partners are expected to pay their fair share of the tremendous defense burden, which the United States has borne in the past.

At the center of our vision for national renewal is an ambitious campaign to reform international trade.  For decades, the international trading system has been easily exploited by nations acting in very bad faith.  As jobs were outsourced, a small handful grew wealthy at the expense of the middle class.

In America, the result was 4.2 million lost manufacturing jobs and $15 trillion in trade deficits over the last quarter century.  The United States is now taking that decisive action to end this grave economic injustice.  Our goal is simple: We want balanced trade that is both fair and reciprocal.

We have worked closely with our partners in Mexico and Canada to replace NAFTA with the brand new and hopefully bipartisan U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Tomorrow, I will join Prime Minister Abe of Japan to continue our progress in finalizing a terrific new trade deal.

As the United Kingdom makes preparations to exit the European Union, I have made clear that we stand ready to complete an exceptional new trade agreement with the UK that will bring tremendous benefits to both of our countries.  We are working closely with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a magnificent new trade deal.

The most important difference in America’s new approach on trade concerns our relationship with China.  In 2001, China was admitted to the World Trade Organization.  Our leaders then argued that this decision would compel China to liberalize its economy and strengthen protections to provide things that were unacceptable to us, and for private property and for the rule of law.  Two decades later, this theory has been tested and proven completely wrong.

Not only has China declined to adopt promised reforms, it has embraced an economic model dependent on massive market barriers, heavy state subsidies, currency manipulation, product dumping, forced technology transfers, and the theft of intellectual property and also trade secrets on a grand scale.

As just one example, I recently met the CEO of a terrific American company, Micron Technology, at the White House.  Micron produces memory chips used in countless electronics.  To advance the Chinese government’s five-year economic plan, a company owned by the Chinese state allegedly stole Micron’s designs, valued at up to $8.7 billion.  Soon, the Chinese company obtains patents for nearly an identical product, and Micron was banned from selling its own goods in China.  But we are seeking justice.

The United States lost 60,000 factories after China entered the WTO.  This is happening to other countries all over the globe.

The World Trade Organization needs drastic change.  The second-largest economy in the world should not be permitted to declare itself a “developing country” in order to game the system at others’ expense.

For years, these abuses were tolerated, ignored, or even encouraged.  Globalism exerted a religious pull over past leaders, causing them to ignore their own national interests.

But as far as America is concerned, those days are over.  To confront these unfair practices, I placed massive tariffs on more than $500 billion worth of Chinese-made goods.  Already, as a result of these tariffs, supply chains are relocating back to America and to other nations, and billions of dollars are being paid to our Treasury.

The American people are absolutely committed to restoring balance to our relationship with China.  Hopefully, we can reach an agreement that would be beneficial for both countries.  But as I have made very clear, I will not accept a bad deal for the American people.

As we endeavor to stabilize our relationship, we’re also carefully monitoring the situation in Hong Kong.  The world fully expects that the Chinese government will honor its binding treaty, made with the British and registered with the United Nations, in which China commits to protect Hong Kong’s freedom, legal system, and democratic ways of life.  How China chooses to handle the situation will say a great deal about its role in the world in the future.  We are all counting on President Xi as a great leader.

The United States does not seek conflict with any other nation.  We desire peace, cooperation, and mutual gain with all.  But I will never fail to defend America’s interests.

One of the greatest security threats facing peace-loving nations today is the repressive regime in Iran.  The regime’s record of death and destruction is well known to us all.  Not only is Iran the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism, but Iran’s leaders are fueling the tragic wars in both Syria and Yemen.

At the same time, the regime is squandering the nation’s wealth and future in a fanatical quest for nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them.  We must never allow this to happen.

To stop Iran’s path to nuclear weapons and missiles, I withdrew the United States from the terrible Iran nuclear deal, which has very little time remaining, did not allow inspection of important sites, and did not cover ballistic missiles.
Following our withdrawal, we have implemented severe economic sanctions on the country.  Hoping to free itself from sanctions, the regime has escalated its violent and unprovoked aggression.  In response to Iran’s recent attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, we just imposed the highest level of sanctions on Iran’s central bank and sovereign wealth fund.

All nations have a duty to act.  No responsible government should subsidize Iran’s bloodlust.  As long as Iran’s menacing behavior continues, sanctions will not be lifted; they will be tightened.  Iran’s leaders will have turned a proud nation into just another cautionary tale of what happens when a ruling class abandons its people and embarks on a crusade for personal power and riches.

For 40 years, the world has listened to Iran’s rulers as they lash out at everyone else for the problems they alone have created.  They conduct ritual chants of “Death to America” and traffic in monstrous anti-Semitism.  Last year the country’s Supreme Leader stated, “Israel is a malignant cancerous tumor…that has to be removed and eradicated: it is possible and it will happen.”  America will never tolerate such anti-Semitic hate.

Fanatics have long used hatred of Israel to distract from their own failures.  Thankfully, there is a growing recognition in the wider Middle East that the countries of the region share common interests in battling extremism and unleashing economic opportunity.  That is why it is so important to have full, normalized relations between Israel and its neighbors.  Only a relationship built on common interests, mutual respect, and religious tolerance can forge a better future.

Iran’s citizens deserve a government that cares about reducing poverty, ending corruption, and increasing jobs — not stealing their money to fund a massacre abroad and at home.

After four decades of failure, it is time for Iran’s leaders to step forward and to stop threatening other countries, and focus on building up their own country.  It is time for Iran’s leaders to finally put the Iranian people first.

America is ready to embrace friendship with all who genuinely seek peace and respect.

Many of America’s closest friends today were once our gravest foes.  The United States has never believed in permanent enemies.  We want partners, not adversaries.  America knows that while anyone can make war, only the most courageous can choose peace.

For this same reason, we have pursued bold diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula. I have told Kim Jong Un what I truly believe: that, like Iran, his country is full of tremendous untapped potential, but that to realize that promise, North Korea must denuclearize.

Around the world, our message is clear: America’s goal is lasting, America’s goal is harmony, and America’s goal is not to go with these endless wars — wars that never end.

With that goal in mind, my administration is also pursuing the hope of a brighter future in Afghanistan.  Unfortunately, the Taliban has chosen to continue their savage attacks.  And we will continue to work with our coalition of Afghan partners to stamp out terrorism, and we will never stop working to make peace a reality.

Here in the Western Hemisphere, we are joining with our partners to ensure stability and opportunity all across the region.  In that mission, one of our most critical challenges is illegal immigration, which undermines prosperity, rips apart societies, and empowers ruthless criminal cartels.

Mass illegal migration is unfair, unsafe, and unsustainable for everyone involved: the sending countries and the depleted countries.  And they become depleted very fast, but their youth is not taken care of and human capital goes to waste.

The receiving countries are overburdened with more migrants than they can responsibly accept.  And the migrants themselves are exploited, assaulted, and abused by vicious coyotes.  Nearly one third of women who make the journey north to our border are sexually assaulted along the way.  Yet, here in the United States and around the world, there is a growing cottage industry of radical activists and non-governmental organizations that promote human smuggling.  These groups encourage illegal migration and demand erasure of national borders.

Today, I have a message for those open border activists who cloak themselves in the rhetoric of social justice: Your policies are not just.  Your policies are cruel and evil.  You are empowering criminal organizations that prey on innocent men, women, and children.  You put your own false sense of virtue before the lives, wellbeing, and [of] countless innocent people.  When you undermine border security, you are undermining human rights and human dignity.

Many of the countries here today are coping with the challenges of uncontrolled migration.  Each of you has the absolute right to protect your borders, and so, of course, does our country.  Today, we must resolve to work together to end human smuggling, end human trafficking, and put these criminal networks out of business for good.

To our country, I can tell you sincerely: We are working closely with our friends in the region — including Mexico, Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama — to uphold the integrity of borders and ensure safety and prosperity for our people.  I would like to thank President López Obrador of Mexico for the great cooperation we are receiving and for right now putting 27,000 troops on our southern border.  Mexico is showing us great respect, and I respect them in return.

The U.S., we have taken very unprecedented action to stop the flow of illegal immigration.  To anyone considering crossings of our border illegally, please hear these words: Do not pay the smugglers.  Do not pay the coyotes.  Do not put yourself in danger.  Do not put your children in danger.  Because if you make it here, you will not be allowed in; you will be promptly returned home.  You will not be released into our country.  As long as I am President of the United States, we will enforce our laws and protect our borders.

For all of the countries of the Western Hemisphere, our goal is to help people invest in the bright futures of their own nation.  Our region is full of such incredible promise: dreams waiting to be built and national destinies for all.  And they are waiting also to be pursued.

Throughout the hemisphere, there are millions of hardworking, patriotic young people eager to build, innovate, and achieve.  But these nations cannot reach their potential if a generation of youth abandon their homes in search of a life elsewhere.  We want every nation in our region to flourish and its people to thrive in freedom and peace.

In that mission, we are also committed to supporting those people in the Western Hemisphere who live under brutal oppression, such as those in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

According to a recent report from the U.N. Human Rights Council, women in Venezuela stand in line for 10 hours a day waiting for food.  Over 15,000 people have been detained as political prisoners.  Modern-day death squads are carrying out thousands of extrajudicial killings.

The dictator Maduro is a Cuban puppet, protected by Cuban bodyguards, hiding from his own people while Cuba plunders Venezuela’s oil wealth to sustain its own corrupt communist rule.

Since I last spoke in this hall, the United States and our partners have built a historic coalition of 55 countries that recognize the legitimate government of Venezuela.

To the Venezuelans trapped in this nightmare: Please know that all of America is united behind you.  The United States has vast quantities of humanitarian aid ready and waiting to be delivered.  We are watching the Venezuela situation very closely.  We await the day when democracy will be restored, when Venezuela will be free, and when liberty will prevail throughout this hemisphere.

One of the most serious challenges our countries face is the specter of socialism.  It’s the wrecker of nations and destroyer of societies.

Events in Venezuela remind us all that socialism and communism are not about justice, they are not about equality, they are not about lifting up the poor, and they are certainly not about the good of the nation.  Socialism and communism are about one thing only: power for the ruling class.

Today, I repeat a message for the world that I have delivered at home: America will never be a socialist country.

In the last century, socialism and communism killed 100 million people.  Sadly, as we see in Venezuela, the death toll continues in this country.  These totalitarian ideologies, combined with modern technology, have the power to excise [exercise] new and disturbing forms of suppression and domination.

For this reason, the United States is taking steps to better screen foreign technology and investments and to protect our data and our security.  We urge every nation present to do the same.

Freedom and democracy must be constantly guarded and protected, both abroad and from within.  We must always be skeptical of those who want conformity and control.  Even in free nations, we see alarming signs and new challenges to liberty.

A small number of social media platforms are acquiring immense power over what we can see and over what we are allowed to say.  A permanent political class is openly disdainful, dismissive, and defiant of the will of the people.  A faceless bureaucracy operates in secret and weakens democratic rule.  Media and academic institutions push flat-out assaults on our histories, traditions, and values.

In the United States, my administration has made clear to social media companies that we will uphold the right of free speech.  A free society cannot allow social media giants to silence the voices of the people, and a free people must never, ever be enlisted in the cause of silencing, coercing, canceling, or blacklisting their own neighbors.

As we defend American values, we affirm the right of all people to live in dignity.  For this reason, my administration is working with other nations to stop criminalizing of homosexuality, and we stand in solidarity with LGBTQ people who live in countries that punish, jail, or execute individuals based upon sexual orientation.

We are also championing the role of women in our societies.  Nations that empower women are much wealthier, safer, and much more politically stable.  It is therefore vital not only to a nation’s prosperity, but also is vital to its national security, to pursue women’s economic development.

Guided by these principles, my administration launched the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiatives.  The W-GDP is first-ever government-wide approach to women’s economic empowerment, working to ensure that women all over the planet have the legal right to own and inherit property, work in the same industries as men, travel freely, and access credit and institutions.

Yesterday, I was also pleased to host leaders for a discussion about an ironclad American commitment: protecting religious leaders and also protecting religious freedom.  This fundamental right is under growing threat around the world.  Hard to believe, but 80 percent of the world’s population lives in countries where religious liberty is in significant danger or even completely outlawed.  Americans will never fire or tire in our effort to defend and promote freedom of worship and religion.  We want and support religious liberty for all.

Americans will also never tire of defending innocent life.  We are aware that many United Nations projects have attempted to assert a global right to taxpayer-funded abortion on demand, right up until the moment of delivery.  Global bureaucrats have absolutely no business attacking the sovereignty of nations that wish to protect innocent life.  Like many nations here today, we in America believe that every child — born and unborn — is a sacred gift from God. ( Continued on pg 2)










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WORLD NEWS HEADLINES
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Earth’s oceans and frozen spaces paying price for ‘taking the heat of global warming’
Our oceans and frozen spaces have been “taking the heat” for global warming for decades, climate experts said on Wednesday, warning that without a radical change in human behavior, hundreds of millions of people could suffer from rising sea levels, frequent natural disasters and food shortages.

Time to step up: UN summit to push for development finance breakthrough.
A sustainable global economy – one that preserves the planet and improves lives everywhere – is also a huge opportunity to create new jobs and market opportunities worth trillions of dollars, says the UN. But to make it happen, the international community needs to rapidly scale up investment.

Tanzania urged to provide more information on suspected Ebola case
Authorities in Tanzania have been urged by the UN to supply further information about the death of an individual from suspected Ebola Virus Disease earlier this month in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.

Countries violate rights over climate change, argue youth activists in landmark UN complaint.
The failure of governments to act on the climate crisis, constitutes a violation of children’s rights, according to a landmark complaint presented to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child by 16 youth activists.

Strong leaders care about all people, not just their own citizens, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says at UN.
Advances in weaponry have made the world smaller, which means leaders are not only responsible for the fate of their citizens but of everyone else on the planet, the President of Ukraine told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.



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IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION
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He mentions how kids knows the risk of not protecting the environment.
The  Nazis also used kids to put forth their dark agenda

Saturday, September 21, 2019

How state agencies improved the digital experience to serve Washingtonians better.


Charged with a mission to serve the public, Washington state agencies consistently strive to find new ways to deliver a more effective customer experience. Here are some highlights of how agencies recently restructured and changed the way they deliver services, offer information to taxpayers and provide a more user-friendly digital experience.
Health Care Authority
An estimated 150,000 school employees will enroll in the new School Employees Benefits Board Program this fall. To support employees in this shift to a statewide health benefits program, the Health Care Authority is offering innovative online tools.
HCA built a “virtual benefits fair,” where employees can use their computer, tablet or smartphone to browse online booths and learn about medical plan options, among other things. The booths will offer videos, downloadable content, provider searches and other information to help employees choose the right plans for them and their dependents.
For those who want more guidance, HCA is offering an online benefits advisor tool that asks employees questions about their health care needs, then suggests which medical, dental and vision plans might make the most sense for them.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) launched a new website in March. With nearly 70 percent of its website users visiting on mobile or tablet devices, WDFW built its new website with a user-centered design philosophy in mind, emphasizing a mobile-first approach for improved user experience and accessibility.
The website project team developed five profiles, known as “personas”, to reflect the characteristics, interests and needs of website visitors. The team based these personas on user research data that informed how they organized and designed the new site.
Working with an outside contractor, the agency conducted several rounds of in-person and online usability tests before constructing the website. Some of the testers expressed that the old website was difficult to navigate, especially on a mobile device. WDFW also heard that the site wasn’t well designed for screen readers and other accessible devices, so they worked to make that a priority with the new site.
With this new website, WDFW now has a platform that will help them meet their customers where they are. Users can even view fishing rules and hunting season changes right from their boat or tree stand.

Regulatory Innovation and Assistance Office
For anyone starting a business, learning how to navigate state regulations can be confusing. That’s a large reason why the Governor’s Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance re-launched Business.wa.gov, the state’s central hub for business assistance. The new site offers enhanced services with a stronger customer focus:
People appreciate a quick, clear answer from a real person. So, the new site offers free assistance services from a pro, through online live chat and text message options in addition to existing phone and email methods. This change alone has more than tripled the number of customer requests coming through.
There is so much to think about when a business is starting up, that it’s hard to know where to begin — and even harder to know when you might have missed something important. So, the state provides a simplified checklist of what people need to do to get started. Business owners can also get access to a comprehensive Small Business Guide. The guide details the steps for starting, running and growing a business. The guide lists helpful resources, the latest changes in regulations and is available in six languages.
Sometimes people starting a new business hit bumps along the road with a particular permit or license. To help iron out those bumps, the state has a Small Business Liaison employee stationed at every agency that administers business regulations. Their job is to problem-solve and listen to businesses’ needs when a business encounters a problem.
ORIA Director Aaron Everett said the agency needed to revamp some of the great services already offered by the state so that the agency could reach people more effectively.

“But this is just the beginning,” Everett said. “Technology has advanced to the point where we can make people’s experience with government as convenient as buying goods on Amazon. This state leads in so many other areas of economic prosperity, and small business deserves to share in the best of our innovations, too.”
Washington State Department of Agriculture
In the past year, the agency replaced its 15-year-old website with a new, mobile compatible website, making it easier for visitors to view information on their smart phones and tablets. The agency updated the site navigation to reflect popular subjects, instead of organizational structure.

To share important information, the agency created a Facebook group specifically for Washingtonians interested in this past spring’s gypsy moth eradication efforts. The agency offered real-time updates during the treatment period to reach a more mobile-friendly audience, and social media followers could ask questions and receive prompt responses from agency staff and other group members. The agency also used email listservs and automated text messaging to alert the public about planned treatments.
The agency has also expanded availability of its Electronic Cattle Tracking Reporting System, an important tool for livestock owners to report animal sales. Previously limited to dairy cow owners, the system is now available to cattle owners so they can report any change in cattle ownership online.

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Washington State Parks recently made the first major update to its reservation system in a decade. The enhanced system improves customers’ digital experience with a more intuitive, mobile-friendly web navigation and a map-based interface.
When visitors arrive at a Washington state park, they can now check in (through their smartphone) by referencing the bar code from their printed or emailed reservation confirmation letter.

Other new features to the reservation system include the addition of 90 campsites and 38 cabins at two popular state parks (Cama Beach and Camano Island), which were previously on their own reservation system. Visitors can also make reservations at seven additional day-use facilities statewide and six group camps in the San Juan Islands. Visitors can make reservations for multiple parks in one online session, and pre-purchase extra-vehicle permits online.
The new system also allows Washington State Parks to offer specials and promotions to its customers. The first promotion offers $5 off camping at select state parks in September.
Users can save their profile information — such as trailer lengths or discount pass numbers — online for convenience.
Visitors can experience the new reservation system through the Parks website.

Washington State Department of Revenue
The Washington State Department of Revenue recently took its free, popular mobile app and redesigned it based on customer feedback. The app, called WA Tax Rates, offers a fast and easy way for businesses to look up a Washington sales tax rate from anywhere.
Businesses can search either by using GPS or by looking up an address. When the business makes deliveries or has multiple job sites, the app lets them look up the correct rate and calculate the sales tax to charge.
Here are some of the main features and improvements:
You don’t need a login to access any of the app’s features. You can find the combined state and local tax rate at your current location using GPS, or by entering in an address.
You can easily name, save and share locations via email or text message.
You can enter your taxable amount for each location, and the app will calculate the sales tax and total charge for you.
You can download or share a spreadsheet (CSV file) with all your saved locations for importing into your accounting system. You can also upload saved locations to cloud storage in a TXT or CSV file format.
You can view locations on a satellite map.
Learn more and download the app on Revenue’s website.


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WORLD NEWS HEADLINES
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Five avoidable deaths per minute shows urgent need for action on patient safety.
With at least five people dying every minute due to unsafe health care, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging medical professionals, policy makers, caregivers and patients to take urgent action to ensure no one is harmed while receiving treatment.

Attack on Saudi facilities risks dragging Yemen into ‘regional conflagration’: UN Envoy.
Attacks against oil facilities in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, claimed by rebel fighters in Yemen, are a sign that the war-torn country could be drawn into even greater conflict, the top United Nations official there told the Security Council on Monday.

‘Champion for multilateralism’ readies to hand over UN General Assembly gavel.
Through consultation, collaboration and consensus, the UN chief on Monday described outgoing President of the General Assembly, María Fernanda Espinosa, as “a champion for multilateralism” who had succeeded in making the United Nations “relevant to all”.

Genocide threat for Myanmar’s Rohingya greater than ever, investigators warn Human Rights Council
Hundreds of thousands of ethnic Rohingya who remain in Myanmar may face a greater threat of genocide than ever, amid Government attempts to “erase their identity and remove them from the country”, UN-appointed independent investigators said on Monday.

One million facing food shortages, nutrition crisis after Mozambique cyclones: UNICEF.
Such was the extent of devastation caused by two back-to-back cyclones in Mozambique earlier this year, nearly one million people, including 160,000 children under five, are still facing food shortages and a nutrition crisis, the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, said on Monday.





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IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION
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Members Endorse Bills to Act on Climate Change Policy in Congress.

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COMMENTARY