Murray representing us

Last week (Feb. 20), Sen. Patty Murray stood up to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and opposed her destructive salmon bill, H.R. 3144, in a letter to congressional leaders, joined by Reps. Adam Smith and Pramila Jayapal.

This terrible bill would ignore protections for endangered salmon, and keep the public from weighing in on salmon recovery. McMorris Rodgers wants to ignore letters sent by constituents like myself, faith leaders, Eastern Washington businesses and conservation groups, but she can’t ignore this letter. Reps. McMorris Rodgers and Newhouse are both attempting to make this about “Seattle liberals” telling us what to do, but we are not foolish enough to take that bait. Salmon and steelhead swim right past the East Side-West Side cultural divide into the heart of rural and urban communities alike. They support jobs, provide recreation, and are part of our Inland Northwest way of life.

Our congresswoman wants us to believe that salmon preservation is just city-slickers not understanding rural needs, but salmon support small towns from Neah Bay to Heller Bar.

I’m grateful to have leaders like Murray who truly represent the interests of Eastern Washington citizens, unlike our congresswoman who only listens to select special interests.

Jacob Schmidt

Spokane