Climate a factor

Both Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Spokesman-Review columnist Sue Lani Madsen have made the point that society should spend its resources on adapting to the effects of man-caused global warming by instituting a policy that focuses on removing dead, diseased and bug-infested trees that are “basically providing fuel for fires.”

Locally, private timber companies have tried this adaptation policy by unsustainably harvesting on their own land to remove this dead and dying timber with the result that renewed, long-term economical harvest can’t happen for another 20, 30 or 40 years. The cause of current global warming must be addressed to stabilize forest health and this means reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) has legislation, supported by 60 bipartisan members of the House, that proposes a free market approach to decreasing carbon dioxide emissions, the main cause of global warming. On Nov. 13-14, CCL members are scheduled to meet individually with all members of Congress in an effort to educate them on this proposed legislation.

Rep. McMorris Rodgers and her staff would be well served if they seriously consider the information provided, which will ultimately benefit the forests of this congressional district.

Bruce Bailey

Colville