Public Periscope
Former fellow travelers
Here’s our candidate for Strange Bedfellows of the Month: the John Birch Society and the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane. The two don’t have much in common, but last Friday in Spokane, both made a strong expression against the war in Kosovo. … PJALS bought a half-page ad in the newspaper, urging readers to write their representatives in Congress and call for an end to the air war and a beginning of peace negotiations. That afternoon, the featured speaker at a John Birch Society-sponsored luncheon denounced the campaign as an illegal war.
William Grigg, an editor for the society’s magazine, criticized President Clinton for getting involved in the war and the Republican-led Congress for approving money for it. “We’re not defending our interests in Kosovo - we’re undermining our interests. It’s not our fight,” Grigg told a crowd of 16, which included Republican state Reps. Larry Crouse and Duane Sommers and state Sen. Larry Sheahan.
Ammo to spare
People who give large sums of money to political candidates routinely assure the public that those contributions do NOT buy votes. Just access, say the big spenders. With that in mind, here’s a look at how much money gun-rights groups have given Northwest senators who voted against mandatory background checks at gun shows and against licenses for Internet sites that sell guns: Larry Craig of Idaho, $18,400; Mike Crapo of Idaho, $16,140; Slade Gorton of Washington, $8,900; Conrad Burns of Montana, $11,900; Max Baucus of Montana, $0; Gordon Smith of Oregon, $12,150. … The totals for Northwest senators who voted the opposite way on those bills: Patty Murray of Washington, $0; Ron Wyden of Oregon, $0. … The money covers 1993 to 1998. Figures were compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.
The result’s pretty much the same
A district librarian asked Spokane School District 81 board members last week to reconsider their recent vote to take “An Alphabet of Rotten Kids!” off her Woodridge Elementary School shelves. Jacci Bottler pointed out the book has won several prestigious awards and said it never should have been banned. … Board member Terrie Beaudreau had a different take on the board’s action: “What I would say is we have not banned a book. We have de-selected a book. There’s a big difference there.”
Getting involved
The city has an opening on the Spokane Arts Commission, which promotes and enhances the arts in Spokane. Applicants must be city residents. For more information or an application, call 625-6252 by June 7.
The county has openings on the Water Quality Advisory Committee and the Civil Service Commission and needs a real estate appraiser for the Landmarks Commission. Applications are available in the commissioners’ office at the county courthouse or by calling 477-2265.
This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPIC Saturday Here’s your chance to say what you think your state elected officials are worth. The Citizens Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials will hold its final meeting and decide on the pay schedule for state politicians for the next two years. 10 a.m., Ramada Inn, Spokane International Airport.