Congresswoman out of step

Rep. McMorris Rodgers appears to be out of step with the latest developments in Snake River Salmon recovery news (“Judge endangers salmon, dams plan,” guest opinion, May 30). Sen. Mike Crapo, of Idaho, announced last week that the stakeholders in this region need to sit down and begin a dialogue about the future of Snake River salmon and what their recovery means for the transportation infrastructure, energy and water issues of the Pacific Northwest. He is committed to creating a dialogue that would ensure all aspects of fisheries science would be considered, not excluding dam removal on the lower Snake.

This is a courageous, forward-looking move. It promises to begin resolving a longstanding crisis in a true collaboration that would include stakeholders the federal government has thus far excluded. Presumably the Spokane Tribe, the state of Oregon, the Nez Perce Tribe and numerous fishing organizations, who have been left out of the process thus far, will have a voice and a place in these discussions.

Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers would do well to take a lesson from Sen. Crapo and look to the interests of the wider region rather than her own narrower agenda when she purports to suggest solutions to the Snake River salmon crisis.

Dave Jackson

Spokane