Editorial

Voters in Washington’s 6th Legislative District have clear choices when they step into the ballot box. Jeff Holy, Mike Volz and Jenny Graham would best represent the region.

Washington voters will find two tax measures on the ballot. They should reject new taxes that will hinder economic growth and every Washingtonian’s pocket book by voting no on a carbon tax and yes on a ban on grocery taxes.

In Congress, experience equals power. Cathy McMorris Rodgers has that experience. She’s been a powerful representative for Eastern Washington and deserves re-election to an eighth term.

Moderate voters in Spokane Valley’s 4th Legislative District probably won’t find much to love among their state House candidates on the Nov. 6 ballot. The Republican incumbents, Matt Shea and Bob McCaslin, are fond of wasting the public’s time on extremist distractions, such as a bid to jettison liberal Western Washington and establish a new state in Eastern Washington called

Two statewide initiatives on the November ballot ask Washingtonians to think about guns. I-940 would make it easier for prosecutors to pursue charges against police officers who shoot a suspect, and I-1639, would impose burdensome regulations on civilian gun owners. Voters should say no to both.

Among the candidates running for Spokane County commissioner are a relatively new commissioner and an experienced one. Mary Kuney in District 2 and Al French in District 3 deserve election on Nov. 6. Generally speaking, District 2 is the southeastern part of the county and District 3 is the western part. District 1, the northeastern part of the county, is not up this year. Josh Kerns currently represents District 1.

Central Spokane’s 3rd Legislative District encompasses some of the poorest neighborhoods in Washington. Its residents need representatives in the state House who have the skill, experience and influence to navigate the policy and budget processes on their behalf. Fortunately, voters will find two such leaders on the Nov. 6 ballot: incumbents Marcus Riccelli and Timm Ormsby.

Spokane voters have an opportunity to transform their community for the better. A trio of local measures – school bonds, library bonds and a stadium referendum – will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot individually, but they are part of a single vision for the future. But that vision only becomes reality if residents vote yes on both bonds and for the north bank stadium site. The three measures grew from collaboration among education, civic and business leaders. Often those disparate parts of the community compete for attention and resources, but this time a unique alliance formed that will utilize tax dollars effectively and efficiently for all of Spokane.

Maria Cantwell has been a solid, hard-working, reasonable, pragmatic senator serving the interests of her constituents across Washington state since 2001. We support her as

Surely, now, we can concede that letting Trump be Trump has exhausted itself – even among the smugly credulous. For a year and a half, we've heard his supporters say: Watch what he does, not what he says. Sure, he's rude and crude, they said, but he's going to make America great again.

On Sunday, a day we as a nation set aside to honor fathers and the bonds of family, I was among the millions of Americans who watched images of children who have been torn from their parents. In the six weeks between April 19 and May 31, the Department of Homeland Security has sent nearly 2,000 children to mass detention centers or foster care. More than 100 of these children are younger than 4 years old. The reason for these separations is a zero-tolerance policy for their parents, who are accused of illegally crossing our borders.

Government hostility toward people of faith has no place in America. The state of Colorado, however, displayed that sort of anti-religious bigotry in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The Supreme Court finally weighed in, and its decision forbids the state from bullying people whose faiths teach them that marriage is the union of a man and a woman. The facts of this case are by now well known. My client, Jack Phillips, is a cake artist and owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop. He serves all who walk through his doors but will not design cakes that celebrate events or convey messages in conflict with his religious beliefs. That includes his belief that marriage is the union of husband and wife.

The United States and Canada will begin negotiations to modernize the Columbia River Treaty regime today. The 54-year-old treaty is an extremely important agreement with our best ally and partner in the hemisphere. Established in 1964, the treaty’s flood risk and hydropower operations have provided substantial benefits to millions of people on both sides of the border and facilitated additional benefits such as supporting the river’s ecosystem, irrigation, municipal water use, industrial use, navigation and recreation. The United States deeply values our unique and essential relationship with Canada. Around the world, this treaty serves as a model for transboundary water cooperation—and rightly so. Americans and Canadians alike should be proud of the invaluable cooperation that has contributed to the development of the regional economy on both sides of the border.

There’s a heroic tale to tell about the Korean War service and sacrifice of Army Maj. Charles A. Newman, a tank commander from Glenview who led an assault on Chinese forces in May 1951. The story, appropriate for Memorial Day, involves bravery under fire and an impatient general who goads Newman while waving a swagger stick. “Get those god-damned tanks on the road and keep going until you hit a mine,” Lt. Gen. Edward Almond ordered. Newman got going, seized a bridgehead and thereby earned a place in military history books.

On Sunday, actor/musician Gary Sinise will again co-host the National Memorial Day Concert from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. It will be the 29th annual concert on the 150th anniversary of Memorial Day. The format is much the same as in past years. Sinise and “Criminal Minds” star Joe Mantegna team with retired Army Gen. Colin Powell to remember those who have sacrificed for our country, our freedom and our way of life. It will attract millions of viewers across our nation and at American military installations around the world.

Most issues look different from rural America, and that’s especially true of internet neutrality. No one doubts that net neutrality policies to keep the internet open and free for all users is vital. No internet provider or tech company should be allowed to block websites, censor or discriminate against viewpoints, manipulate cyberspace to shut out competition or otherwise interfere with our online experience.

President Donald Trump should follow the suggestion of many – including some within his own party, and reportedly even his chief of staff – and replace Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt. Pruitt’s conduct as head of the EPA is beyond disappointing; it’s disgraceful. The list of indefensible actions grows each week: from sweetheart condo deals with the wife of an energy lobbyist, to unfair raises for favored appointees and apparent punishments for those who defy him, to a $43,000 soundproof phone booth.