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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Washington Solons Take Aim @ Huckleberry Pickers

Washington state Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, questioned the wisdom of Democrats on the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee in passing the “Huckleberry Bill” out of committee last week. House Bill 1040 would allow the citation of local huckleberry pickers who possess or transport more than three gallons of huckleberries, either on their person or in their home, or both. The berries could be seized and given to the local Native American Tribe. "We’re now going to have huckleberry cops, huckleberry hounds and a wholesale round-up of little old ladies picking huckleberries used for pies they auction off for charity,” said Kretz. “What has this world come to that folks can’t pick more than three gallons of berries in their own backyard without a permit? This bill would make it illegal to do just that on both public and private land without a state-issued permit.”

DFO: Ya gotta be kidding me.

Question: What would you say to the Demos in the Washington House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee who voted for this nonsense?

Hat Tip: Opinion Editor Doug Floyd



Huckleberries Online

D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.