Rate increase uncomfortable

I am sure that Avista needs a rate increase! Last year, my comfort level payment was $137 a month. This year it has jumped (or should I say leaped) to $182 a month.

According to my statement, I used the same amount of gas and less electricity. And yet a gigantic leap in my monthly payment.

As with the rest of our leaders, greed is the problem. When is enough, enough?

Joyce Bagdon

Spokane

Downtown loses vitality

Loved the 1940s picture back when downtown was bustling and vibrant. I looked at the modern day picture with sadness, and thought, “Where did all the people go?” Except for the riffraff around the STA Plaza, today’s downtown has lost the vitality of days past.

Nadine Joubert

Spokane

Barbieri comment outrageous

In our opinion, by being a co-sponsor of SB 1387, Rep. Vito Barbieri was not representing the majority of his constituency, but his own personal beliefs. We see no problem if he lives by his personal beliefs, as long as he does not force them unto others.

The March 28 article in The Spokesman-Review mentioned that “this bill made no exception for victims of rape or incest.”

It went on, and I am quoting exactly, “Barbieri, who is chairman of the board of a crisis pregnancy center in Coeur d’Alene, said that didn’t concern him. ‘My perspective is that it’s a life,’ he said. ‘It doesn’t matter to me how the baby was conceived.’ ”

This is outrageous. I suspect that Barbieri would probably change his tune if a member of his family was the victim.

How can he sponsor, as a Republican and by definition an opponent to government regulations, such an intrusion into the private lives of others? This is utter hypocrisy.

Come the next election we will certainly bring this subject up with our acquaintances.

Juergen Nolthenius

Coeur d’Alene

Democrats have no budget

In an April 1 letter to the editor, Norm Ellefson blames recent increases in gas, cable TV and drugs on Republicans, even though they’ve not been in control of our country for over three years. Ellefson also states that Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal will add to the deficit. Ryan’s proposal is far more realistic than President Obama’s and would in fact do more to reduce the deficit.

Ryan’s proposal passed the House by 228-191. Obama’s was defeated 414-0, without one Democrat voting for it! Meanwhile, in the Senate, Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid has refused to submit a budget for 1,065 days, even though it is required by law.

President Obama had two years of Democratic control to enact any legislation he wished. What we got was a failed stimulus, adding trillions to the debt, a health care law that will add more trillions to the deficit, and is probably going to be found unconstitutional, and constant whining that it’s all President George W. Bush’s fault.

If you don’t mind living large now and leaving the mess for your grandkids, follow Ellefson’s advice, by all means.

Hal R. Dixon

Spokane

Impact on base overblown

I have been watching events unfold regarding the building of the Spokane Tribe’s casino in Airway Heights. Until recently, there has been little opposition.

Enter the Greater Spokane Incorporated chamber of commerce and four Republican City Council members. The facts surrounding this building site are mostly ignored by same.

The adverse effect on Fairchild Air Force Base is pure speculation. Other bases around the country, with similar building projects close by, have not been negatively impacted. This information is available with Google access, for interested parties.

A former base commander indicated to former County Commissioner Bonnie Mager that there would be no harm to Fairchild from this casino.

The economic benefits of the Spokane Tribe’s project would be great. A $400 million investment in this area by a private party is rare and should be accepted. Also, the environmental impact statement for said building site includes a financial estimate of $240 million a year coming to the area, after completion of building the casino.

It would be sad to see this economic influx fail because of special interest by a few.

John Gary Kavanagh

Spokane