Inmates Suffering from Mental Health Illness Await Treatment
By Cassidy Gardner
On April 7, Bruce Flatt was arrested on the charge of misdemeanor assault after he hit the manager of the Steptoe Friendly Mart with a stick of beef jerky. A month later he remains under 23-hour lockdown in the Whitman County Jail.
Flatt, 41-years-old, suffers from schizophrenia with a bipolar component. Prior to his arrest Flatt had been living in an abandoned gas station in Steptoe. He was not taking his prescribed medication when the incident occurred.
“My doctor that was taking care of me sent me a letter saying he retired and my family won’t talk to me anymore. I can’t get to the doctor, can’t get pills, so I keep hearing the voices,” Flatt said.
Captain Bob Ingalls, the Whitman County Jail Administrator, said there is no treatment for mental health at his disposal and he keeps Flatt separate from other inmates who have day-room privileges because he does not want Flatt to irritate them.
“I want to put a lid on any possible problems so I keep the mental health patients separate. We used to be able to send people with mental health problems straight to Eastern State Hospital but now the beds are few and far between and we can be waiting five to six weeks,” Ingalls said.
Flatt said he feels his mental illness is further aggravated since being put in jail.
“All the time I’m just thinking of getting my feet chopped off and I have this haunting voice saying they are going to put me in prison for the rest of my life,” Flatt said.
In 2008 the budget at the jail for professional medical services was $35,000. The majority of the funding goes to paying for jail doctor visits, county nurse visits, and for dental work.
“It’s actually a good thing that Bruce [Flatt] was picked up because now he can get proper treatment,” Ingalls said.
He is hoping that Flatt will be moved to Paul’s Place, an adult family home in Colfax.
“I get state checks but the Bank of Whitman said I can’t come there anymore,” Flatt said.
With tears in his eyes Flatt explains that he always aspired to be like his father and that all of his siblings have earned college degrees.
“My dad never had any of these problems. I just can’t do anything and I have never done anything like I did that day [at Steptoe Friendly Mart]. I was just upset because I had a big fight with my mom on the phone,” Flatt said.
Captain Ingalls said mental health is a major issue across the state and is often ignored when the state is making budget decisions.
In Spokane, a more metropolitan area of Eastern Washington, there have been major changes made in the way the Spokane County Jail staff treats inmates with mental health problems.
Three years ago the Spokane County Jail hired a four-person mental health staff and started providing all of their services in-house, meaning that psych-evaluations and medical prescriptions were written by the doctor employed by the jail.
Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richards said he thinks psychotropic medications are more accurately dispensed now.
“We were pill pushers before and people were committing minor crimes because jail was the only comfortable place they knew. When they got there they were prescribed sleep meds and we were giving them this crutch,” Richards said.
The doctor at the Spokane County Jail no longer prescribes sleep medication except in extreme cases.
The reform was prompted by excessive spending; Spokane County was paying Eastern State Hospital approximately $1 million a year to house inmates.
“The jail was spending five times what they should have been spending. But now we have designed a safe and more ethical housing environment for inmates with mental illness,” Richards said.
The amount spent on psychotropics has declined by 5% since the mental health reform was implemented at the Spokane County Jail. In 2006 the jail spent approximately $780,000 on psychotropics compared to the $637,000 they spent in 2008.
Brian H. Struthers, an inmate at Spokane County Jail, said his 12 month stay has been difficult because he used to receive counseling and he misses talking to a professional.
Struthers, 33-years-old, was arrested for arson after he started a fire at the adult family home he was living in.
“They give you medication and if you say you need to talk to someone they talk to you for about two seconds,” Struthers said.
Lieutenant Dan Veloski, the head of the Spokane Jail Division-Medical Services Unit, said mental health is a priority within the jail and right now he is in the process of getting his mental health staff classified as civil service so their positions are secure.
The Spokane County Jail Mental Health Unit is the only unit in a Washington jail that is registered through Washington State as a mental health provider.
“Here we try to make mental health a priority, but on a state level I worry about whether it is considered important,” Veloski said.
In Whitman County Bruce Flatt still awaits placement in an adult family home.
“I feel like I’m on a corridor to hell,” Flatt said.
Sources:
Bob Ingalls: (509) 397-6266
Bruce Flatt: (509) 397-6266
Dan Veloski: (509) 477-2698
Brian H. Struthers: (509) 326-7806
Mark Richards: (509)-251-3643
Monday, May 4, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Inmates Suffering from Mental Health Illness Await Treatment
By Cassidy Gardner
On April 7, Bruce Flatt was arrested and booked on misdemeanor assault charges, after he hit the manager of the Steptoe Friendly Mart with a stick of beef jerky, a month later he remains under 23-hour lockdown in the Whitman County Jail.
Flatt, 41-years-old, suffers from schizophrenia with a bipolar component. The year prior to his arrest Flatt had been living in an abandoned gas station in Steptoe. He was not taking his prescribed medicine when the incident occurred.
“My doctor that was taking care of me sent me a letter saying he retired and my family won’t talk to me anymore. I can’t get to the doctor, can’t get pills, so I keep hearing the voices,” Flatt said.
Captain Bob Ingalls, the Whitman County Jail Administrator, said there is no treatment for mental health at his disposal and he keeps Flatt separate from other inmates who have day-room privileges because he does not want Flatt to irritate them.
“I want to put a lid on any possible problems, so I keep the mental health patients separate. We use to be able to send people with mental health problems straight to Eastern State Hospital, but now the beds are few and far between and we can be waiting for between five to six weeks,” Ingalls said.
Flatt said he feels his mental illness is further aggravated since being put in jail.
“All the time I’m just thinking of getting my feet chopped off and I have this haunting voice saying they are going to put me in prison for the rest of my life,” Flatt said.
In 2008 the budget at the jail for professional medical services was $35,000. The majority of the funding goes to paying for jail doctor visits, county nurse visits and for dental work.
“It’s actually a good thing that Bruce was picked up because now he can get proper treatment,” Ingalls said.
He is hoping that Flatt will be moved to Paul’s Place, an adult family home in Colfax.
“I get state checks but the Bank of Whitman said I can’t come there anymore and the check bothers me because it has [printed] bars on it,” Flatt said.
With tears in his eyes Flatt explains that he always aspired to be like his father and that all of his siblings have earned college degrees.
“My dad never had any of these problems. I just can’t do anything and I have never done anything like I did that day [at Steptoe Friendly Mart], I was just upset because I had a big fight with my mom on the phone,” Flatt said.
Captain Ingalls said mental health is a major issue across the state and is often ignored when the state is making budget decisions.
In Spokane, a more metropolitan area of Eastern Washington, there have been major changes made in how the County Jail treats inmates with mental health problems.
Three years ago the Spokane County Jail hired a four person mental health staff and started providing all of their services in-house, meaning that psych-evaluations and medical prescriptions were written by the doctor employed by the jail.
Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richards said he thinks psychotropic medications are more accurately dispersed now.
“We were pill pushers before and people were committing minor crimes because jail was the only comfortable place they knew. When they got there they were prescribed sleep meds and we were giving them this crutch,” Richards said.
The doctor at the Spokane County Jail no longer prescribes sleep medication, except in extreme cases.
The reform was prompted by excessive spending; Spokane County was paying Eastern State Hospital $1 million a year to house inmates.
“The jail was spending five times what they should have been spending. But now we have designed a safe and more ethical housing environment for inmates with mental illness,” Richards said.
The amount spent on psychotropics has declined by 5% since the mental health reform was implemented at the Spokane County Jail. In 2006 the jail spent approximately $780,000 on psychotropics, compared to the $637,000 they spent in 2008.
Brian H. Struthers, an inmate at Spokane Count Jail, said his 12 month stay has been difficult because he used to receive counseling and he misses talking to someone.
Struthers, 33-years-old, was arrested for arson after he started a fire at the adult family home he was living in.
Lieutenant Dan Veloski, the head of the Spokane Jail Division-Medical Services Unit, said mental health is a priority within the jail and right now he is in the process of getting his mental health staff classified as civil service, so their positions are secure.
The Mental Health Unit is the only unit in a Washington jail that is registered through Washington State as a mental health provider.
“Here we try to make mental health a priority, but on a state level I worry about whether it’s considered a priority,” Veloski said.
In Whitman County Bruce Flatt still awaits placement in an adult family home.
“I feel like I’m on a corridor to hell,” Flatt said.
Sources:
Bob Ingalls: (509) 397-6266
Bruce Flatt: (509) 397-6266
Dan Veloski: (509) 477-2698
Brian H. Struthers: (509) 326-7806
Mark Richards: (509)-251-3643
By Cassidy Gardner
On April 7, Bruce Flatt was arrested and booked on misdemeanor assault charges, after he hit the manager of the Steptoe Friendly Mart with a stick of beef jerky, a month later he remains under 23-hour lockdown in the Whitman County Jail.
Flatt, 41-years-old, suffers from schizophrenia with a bipolar component. The year prior to his arrest Flatt had been living in an abandoned gas station in Steptoe. He was not taking his prescribed medicine when the incident occurred.
“My doctor that was taking care of me sent me a letter saying he retired and my family won’t talk to me anymore. I can’t get to the doctor, can’t get pills, so I keep hearing the voices,” Flatt said.
Captain Bob Ingalls, the Whitman County Jail Administrator, said there is no treatment for mental health at his disposal and he keeps Flatt separate from other inmates who have day-room privileges because he does not want Flatt to irritate them.
“I want to put a lid on any possible problems, so I keep the mental health patients separate. We use to be able to send people with mental health problems straight to Eastern State Hospital, but now the beds are few and far between and we can be waiting for between five to six weeks,” Ingalls said.
Flatt said he feels his mental illness is further aggravated since being put in jail.
“All the time I’m just thinking of getting my feet chopped off and I have this haunting voice saying they are going to put me in prison for the rest of my life,” Flatt said.
In 2008 the budget at the jail for professional medical services was $35,000. The majority of the funding goes to paying for jail doctor visits, county nurse visits and for dental work.
“It’s actually a good thing that Bruce was picked up because now he can get proper treatment,” Ingalls said.
He is hoping that Flatt will be moved to Paul’s Place, an adult family home in Colfax.
“I get state checks but the Bank of Whitman said I can’t come there anymore and the check bothers me because it has [printed] bars on it,” Flatt said.
With tears in his eyes Flatt explains that he always aspired to be like his father and that all of his siblings have earned college degrees.
“My dad never had any of these problems. I just can’t do anything and I have never done anything like I did that day [at Steptoe Friendly Mart], I was just upset because I had a big fight with my mom on the phone,” Flatt said.
Captain Ingalls said mental health is a major issue across the state and is often ignored when the state is making budget decisions.
In Spokane, a more metropolitan area of Eastern Washington, there have been major changes made in how the County Jail treats inmates with mental health problems.
Three years ago the Spokane County Jail hired a four person mental health staff and started providing all of their services in-house, meaning that psych-evaluations and medical prescriptions were written by the doctor employed by the jail.
Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richards said he thinks psychotropic medications are more accurately dispersed now.
“We were pill pushers before and people were committing minor crimes because jail was the only comfortable place they knew. When they got there they were prescribed sleep meds and we were giving them this crutch,” Richards said.
The doctor at the Spokane County Jail no longer prescribes sleep medication, except in extreme cases.
The reform was prompted by excessive spending; Spokane County was paying Eastern State Hospital $1 million a year to house inmates.
“The jail was spending five times what they should have been spending. But now we have designed a safe and more ethical housing environment for inmates with mental illness,” Richards said.
The amount spent on psychotropics has declined by 5% since the mental health reform was implemented at the Spokane County Jail. In 2006 the jail spent approximately $780,000 on psychotropics, compared to the $637,000 they spent in 2008.
Brian H. Struthers, an inmate at Spokane Count Jail, said his 12 month stay has been difficult because he used to receive counseling and he misses talking to someone.
Struthers, 33-years-old, was arrested for arson after he started a fire at the adult family home he was living in.
Lieutenant Dan Veloski, the head of the Spokane Jail Division-Medical Services Unit, said mental health is a priority within the jail and right now he is in the process of getting his mental health staff classified as civil service, so their positions are secure.
The Mental Health Unit is the only unit in a Washington jail that is registered through Washington State as a mental health provider.
“Here we try to make mental health a priority, but on a state level I worry about whether it’s considered a priority,” Veloski said.
In Whitman County Bruce Flatt still awaits placement in an adult family home.
“I feel like I’m on a corridor to hell,” Flatt said.
Sources:
Bob Ingalls: (509) 397-6266
Bruce Flatt: (509) 397-6266
Dan Veloski: (509) 477-2698
Brian H. Struthers: (509) 326-7806
Mark Richards: (509)-251-3643
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Schieffer and Thomas are in a League of their Own
By Cassidy Gardner
At the annual Edward R. Murrow Symposium, held on Tuesday evening, Helen Thomas and Bob Schieffer both emphasized the pertinent role newspapers and professional journalists play in maintaining a healthy democracy.
“American democracy as we know it cannot exist without access to an independent press,” Schieffer said.
Thomas was awarded the Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Edward R. Murrow Award and Schieffer received the Lifetime Achievement in Broadcast Journalism Edward R. Murrow Award.
Thomas, who is commonly referred to as “The First Lady of the Press,” has covered every president since John F. Kennedy. She served as the White House correspondent for United Press International for 57 years.
Schieffer has covered all four major beats in the nation’s capital-the White House, Pentagon, State Department and Capitol Hill. He has been a reporter for 57 years and is in his fortieth year at CBS news. He currently hosts Face the Nation.
“It was great to hear all their anecdotes and get to know these two people on a more personal note. I watch Schieffer every week so to see more of his personality was amazing,” Marge Aftner of Lewiston, Idaho said.
The Murrow Symposium was held in Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum. Approximately 200 people attended the event.
“I am so surprised there are so few students here. These two people really interested me,” Kelsey Einig, a WSU senior majoring in communication, said.
Thomas said journalism is going through a period of adjustment and it is unclear how everything will pan out.
“Everyone with a laptop thinks they’re a journalist,” Thomas said.
She then emphasized the importance of ethical standards in the field of journalism.
“American journalists should return to the real mission- to follow the truth wherever it leads us,” Thomas said.
Schieffer said trained reporters with ethics and standards are needed now more than ever.
“The American press, for all its faults, the American people are the most informed people in the world,” Schieffer said.
Both expressed worry about the current economic problems newspapers are facing.
“I hope and pray newspapers are gonna’ survive…. The most important thing is getting the story and getting it right,” Schieffer said.
In the ending question and answer segment of the evening, Schieffer and Thomas, both agreed that curiosity is the key characteristic all great journalists possess.
“This [journalism] is a mission in life, to seek the truth wherever you can find it. Remember you cannot have a democracy, without an informed people,” Thomas said.
Questions for Schieffer and Thomas:
1. For Thomas: What were some of you most challenging moments as a journalist? Was it more difficult to earn respect in the Whitehouse as a woman?
2. Schieffer: What was your favorite Washington beat to cover? Why?
3. Thomas: Do you have a mentor or someone who really inspired you throughout your life?
Sources:
Kelsey Einig: 425-356-9543
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Background Information
Bob Scheiffer has worked as a television journalist for CBS since 1969. He has covered the White House, the Pentagon, The United States Department of State and Congress. Scheiffer also moderated a presidential debate between Bush and Kerry in 2004. He was a moderator on both Face the Nation and CBS Evening News. He retired from CBS news in August of 2006. Scheiffer and his family were considered very close with the Bush family. He also published a memoir title This Just In, covering his time as a beat reporter to broadcaster while at CBS news.
Helen Thomas has been a member of the White House Press Corps. for 57 years. She has also worked as the White House bureau chief for United Press International. Thomas has covered every president since John F. Kennedy. She as the first female member and president of The White House Correspondent Association and has authored four books. During JFK’s presidency she began the long standing tradition of ending all presidential press conferences with “Thank you, Mr. President.” Towards the end of the Bush Administration this tradition was terminated, most likely due to Thomas’ open disdain toward President Bush. Currently she works for Hearst News Service where she writes a highly opinionated White House Column.
The Edward R. Murrow Symposium recognizes excellence in communication and connects WSU with industry icons.
Bob Scheiffer has worked as a television journalist for CBS since 1969. He has covered the White House, the Pentagon, The United States Department of State and Congress. Scheiffer also moderated a presidential debate between Bush and Kerry in 2004. He was a moderator on both Face the Nation and CBS Evening News. He retired from CBS news in August of 2006. Scheiffer and his family were considered very close with the Bush family. He also published a memoir title This Just In, covering his time as a beat reporter to broadcaster while at CBS news.
Helen Thomas has been a member of the White House Press Corps. for 57 years. She has also worked as the White House bureau chief for United Press International. Thomas has covered every president since John F. Kennedy. She as the first female member and president of The White House Correspondent Association and has authored four books. During JFK’s presidency she began the long standing tradition of ending all presidential press conferences with “Thank you, Mr. President.” Towards the end of the Bush Administration this tradition was terminated, most likely due to Thomas’ open disdain toward President Bush. Currently she works for Hearst News Service where she writes a highly opinionated White House Column.
The Edward R. Murrow Symposium recognizes excellence in communication and connects WSU with industry icons.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Hard Work Pays Off for Whitman County Commissioner
Whitman County Commissioner Pat O’Neill pulls up to the courthouse in a glossy pickup truck. He burls toward the front door wearing a camouflage shirt and blue jeans.
The 61 year old commissioner is serving his first term. He is the third Democratic commissioner elected in the last fifty years in Whitman County.
“I ain’t got a college degree. What I’ve got is the seat of my pants,” O’Neill said.
During election season O’Neill spent his time riding on his four-wheeler from farm to farm. His campaign strategy consisted of knocking on doors and personally asking for people’s vote.
“If you want to win an election you’ve got to walk, pedal, and hit just about every damn house in the district,” O’Neill said.
Tom Forbes, editor of the conservative blog Red County Whitman County, thinks O’Neill’s opponent Jerry Finch lost the election due to a lack of campaigning and a history of politically incorrect remarks. He had served as county commissioner the previous eight years.
“My suspicion is that a lot of people in Whitman County voted straight Republican until they reached Jerry Finch,” Forbes said.
O’Neill has lived in the Pullman area for about two years. He moved to Pullman to be near his daughter. Prior to the move he had lived in Stanwood, Wash., on the west side of the state.
He worked as a mechanic for American Airlines for 35 years but always had a knack for politics and public affairs.
As a mechanic O’Neill was put on special assignment to organize labor in the state of Wash. and Ore. He was in charge of gaining support to protect American Airline’s route from Seattle to Tokyo. While on special assignment he collected 175,000 signatures. In 1988 O’Neill was awarded the Public Relations Award by American Airlines.
“It was unheard of for a mechanic to get the Public Relations Award. American Airlines sent me to Washington D.C. for the hearing about the route. Seeing Congress was the start of my love for politics,” O’Neill said.
Jane Guido, a member of Whitman County Democrats, said she was skeptical when she first heard O’Neill was running for commissioner.
“His grammar is terrible, but then you start talking to him and you realize he is naturally intelligent and he truly likes everyone,” Guido said.
O’Neill based his campaign on the slogan “Accountability, Transparency, and Cooperation.”
He has been in office approximately 60 days now. O’Neill is currently working on getting commission meetings broadcast. During his campaign O’Neill promised to make county business more accessible to the public.
“O’Neill is a colorful figure and so far the other two Republican commissioners are actually getting along with him,” Forbes said.
O’Neill said he plans on running for another term.
“I love the hell out of this job. I wish I had done it 20 years ago” he said.
Sources:
Pat O’Neill
509-397-5240
Tom Forbes
509-432-3142
Jane Guido
509-432-3565
Whitman County Commissioner Pat O’Neill pulls up to the courthouse in a glossy pickup truck. He burls toward the front door wearing a camouflage shirt and blue jeans.
The 61 year old commissioner is serving his first term. He is the third Democratic commissioner elected in the last fifty years in Whitman County.
“I ain’t got a college degree. What I’ve got is the seat of my pants,” O’Neill said.
During election season O’Neill spent his time riding on his four-wheeler from farm to farm. His campaign strategy consisted of knocking on doors and personally asking for people’s vote.
“If you want to win an election you’ve got to walk, pedal, and hit just about every damn house in the district,” O’Neill said.
Tom Forbes, editor of the conservative blog Red County Whitman County, thinks O’Neill’s opponent Jerry Finch lost the election due to a lack of campaigning and a history of politically incorrect remarks. He had served as county commissioner the previous eight years.
“My suspicion is that a lot of people in Whitman County voted straight Republican until they reached Jerry Finch,” Forbes said.
O’Neill has lived in the Pullman area for about two years. He moved to Pullman to be near his daughter. Prior to the move he had lived in Stanwood, Wash., on the west side of the state.
He worked as a mechanic for American Airlines for 35 years but always had a knack for politics and public affairs.
As a mechanic O’Neill was put on special assignment to organize labor in the state of Wash. and Ore. He was in charge of gaining support to protect American Airline’s route from Seattle to Tokyo. While on special assignment he collected 175,000 signatures. In 1988 O’Neill was awarded the Public Relations Award by American Airlines.
“It was unheard of for a mechanic to get the Public Relations Award. American Airlines sent me to Washington D.C. for the hearing about the route. Seeing Congress was the start of my love for politics,” O’Neill said.
Jane Guido, a member of Whitman County Democrats, said she was skeptical when she first heard O’Neill was running for commissioner.
“His grammar is terrible, but then you start talking to him and you realize he is naturally intelligent and he truly likes everyone,” Guido said.
O’Neill based his campaign on the slogan “Accountability, Transparency, and Cooperation.”
He has been in office approximately 60 days now. O’Neill is currently working on getting commission meetings broadcast. During his campaign O’Neill promised to make county business more accessible to the public.
“O’Neill is a colorful figure and so far the other two Republican commissioners are actually getting along with him,” Forbes said.
O’Neill said he plans on running for another term.
“I love the hell out of this job. I wish I had done it 20 years ago” he said.
Sources:
Pat O’Neill
509-397-5240
Tom Forbes
509-432-3142
Jane Guido
509-432-3565
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Profile Proposal
1. Profile Whitman County Commissioner Pat O'Neill. First Democratic commissioner in a really long time. Look at what led to this change, his positions on issues, what he is accomplishing in office and how his relations are with the community and other commissioners.
2. Profile Mary Verner, Spokane's Mayor.
3. Profile Pullman's Mayor Glen Johnson.
2. Profile Mary Verner, Spokane's Mayor.
3. Profile Pullman's Mayor Glen Johnson.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Secret Bush memos made public by Obama
Document says no warrant needed to search and seize terror suspects
WASHINGTON - The Justice Department on Monday released a long-secret legal document from 2001 in which the Bush administration claimed the military could search and seize terror suspects in the United States without warrants.
The legal memo was written about a month after the Sept. 11 terror attacks. It says constitutional protections against unlawful search and seizure would not apply to terror suspects in the U.S., as long as the president or another high official authorized the action.
Even after the Bush administration rescinded that legal analysis, the Justice Department refused to release its contents, prompting a standoff with congressional Democrats.
The memo was one of nine released Monday by the Obama administration.
Another memo showed that, within two weeks of Sept. 11, the administration was contemplating ways to use wiretaps without getting warrants.
The author of the search and seizure memo, John Yoo, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
In that memo, Yoo wrote that the president could treat terrorist suspects in the United States like an invading foreign army. For instance, he said, the military would not have to get a warrant to storm a building to prevent terrorists from detonating a bomb.
Yoo also suggested that the government could put new restrictions on the press and speech, without spelling out what those might be.
"First Amendment speech and press rights may also be subordinated to the overriding need to wage war successfully," Yoo wrote, adding later: "The current campaign against terrorism may require even broader exercises of federal power domestically."
While they were once important legal pillars of the U.S. fight against al-Qaida, some of the memos were withdrawn in the final days of the Bush administration.
In one of his first official acts as president, Barack Obama also signed an order negating the memos' claims until his administration could conduct a thorough review.
In a speech Monday, Obama's attorney general, Eric Holder said that too often in the past decade the fight against terrorism has been put in opposition to "our tradition of civil liberties."
That "has done us more harm than good," he declared. "I've often said that the test of a great nation is whether it will adhere to its core values not only when it is easy but when it is hard."
RNC chief Steele: Limbaugh is more a performer than GOP leader
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele is taking issue with the notion that Rush Limbaugh is the de facto leader of the GOP, calling the conservative radio talk show host an entertainer whose comments can be ugly.
"Rush will say what Rush has to say; we'll do what we have to do," RNC Chairman Michael Steele has said.
1 of 2 Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said in an interview with CNN that he, rather than Limbaugh, is "the de facto leader of the Republican Party."
And Steele described Limbaugh as a performer.
"Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer. Rush Limbaugh's whole thing is entertainment," Steele said. "Yes, it is incendiary. Yes, it is ugly."
Limbaugh fired back on his radio show Monday that the GOP leader appears to be supporting President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"Why do you claim to lead the Republican Party when you seem obsessed with seeing to it President Obama succeeds?" Limbaugh said to Steele.
"I frankly am stunned that the chairman of the Republican National Committee endorses such an agenda. I have to conclude that he does because he attacks me for wanting it to fail," said Limbaugh.
Last month, Steele, a former lieutenant governor of Maryland, was elected chairman of the RNC. He is the first African-American to lead the Republican Party. At the time of his election, Steele said that "Rush will say what Rush has to say; we'll do what we have to do."
Steele made his latest comments regarding Limbaugh on CNN's "D.L. Hughley Breaks the News," which aired this weekend. The Steele interview was taped before Limbaugh's appearance before the Conservative Political Action Conference, an annual meeting of conservatives from across the nation.
He used his self-described "first national address," which ran more than an hour longer than his allotted 20 minutes, to accuse President Obama of inspiring fear in Americans in order to push a liberal agenda of "big government."
Limbaugh also backed up comments he made earlier this year in which he said he hoped Obama failed.
"What is so strange about being honest and saying I want Barack Obama to fail if his mission is to restructure and re-form this country so that capitalism and individual liberty are not its foundation?" he said.
But a top Republican in Congress disagreed.
"I don't think anyone wants anything to fail right now," House Republican Whip Eric Cantor said on ABC's "This Week." "We have such challenges. What we need to do is we need to put forth solutions to the problems that real families are facing today."
RNC spokesman Alex Conant on Monday did not directly address Steele's comments about Limbaugh but pointed out the back-and-forth between the White House and the conservative radio host.
"Rahm Emanuel and the Democrats know they lose an argument with the Republican Party on substance, so they are building straw men to attack and distract," he said. "The feud between radio host Rush and Rahm makes great political theater, but it is a sideshow to the important work going on in Washington.
"RNC Chairman Michael Steele and elected Republicans are focused on fighting for reform and winning elections. The Democrats' problem is that the American people are growing skeptical of the massive government spending being pushed by congressional leaders like [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi," Conant said.
A spokesman for Limbaugh said the radio host did not have an immediate response, but added he would probably address Steele's comments Monday on his nationally syndicated radio program.
Document says no warrant needed to search and seize terror suspects
WASHINGTON - The Justice Department on Monday released a long-secret legal document from 2001 in which the Bush administration claimed the military could search and seize terror suspects in the United States without warrants.
The legal memo was written about a month after the Sept. 11 terror attacks. It says constitutional protections against unlawful search and seizure would not apply to terror suspects in the U.S., as long as the president or another high official authorized the action.
Even after the Bush administration rescinded that legal analysis, the Justice Department refused to release its contents, prompting a standoff with congressional Democrats.
The memo was one of nine released Monday by the Obama administration.
Another memo showed that, within two weeks of Sept. 11, the administration was contemplating ways to use wiretaps without getting warrants.
The author of the search and seizure memo, John Yoo, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
In that memo, Yoo wrote that the president could treat terrorist suspects in the United States like an invading foreign army. For instance, he said, the military would not have to get a warrant to storm a building to prevent terrorists from detonating a bomb.
Yoo also suggested that the government could put new restrictions on the press and speech, without spelling out what those might be.
"First Amendment speech and press rights may also be subordinated to the overriding need to wage war successfully," Yoo wrote, adding later: "The current campaign against terrorism may require even broader exercises of federal power domestically."
While they were once important legal pillars of the U.S. fight against al-Qaida, some of the memos were withdrawn in the final days of the Bush administration.
In one of his first official acts as president, Barack Obama also signed an order negating the memos' claims until his administration could conduct a thorough review.
In a speech Monday, Obama's attorney general, Eric Holder said that too often in the past decade the fight against terrorism has been put in opposition to "our tradition of civil liberties."
That "has done us more harm than good," he declared. "I've often said that the test of a great nation is whether it will adhere to its core values not only when it is easy but when it is hard."
RNC chief Steele: Limbaugh is more a performer than GOP leader
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele is taking issue with the notion that Rush Limbaugh is the de facto leader of the GOP, calling the conservative radio talk show host an entertainer whose comments can be ugly.
"Rush will say what Rush has to say; we'll do what we have to do," RNC Chairman Michael Steele has said.
1 of 2 Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said in an interview with CNN that he, rather than Limbaugh, is "the de facto leader of the Republican Party."
And Steele described Limbaugh as a performer.
"Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer. Rush Limbaugh's whole thing is entertainment," Steele said. "Yes, it is incendiary. Yes, it is ugly."
Limbaugh fired back on his radio show Monday that the GOP leader appears to be supporting President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"Why do you claim to lead the Republican Party when you seem obsessed with seeing to it President Obama succeeds?" Limbaugh said to Steele.
"I frankly am stunned that the chairman of the Republican National Committee endorses such an agenda. I have to conclude that he does because he attacks me for wanting it to fail," said Limbaugh.
Last month, Steele, a former lieutenant governor of Maryland, was elected chairman of the RNC. He is the first African-American to lead the Republican Party. At the time of his election, Steele said that "Rush will say what Rush has to say; we'll do what we have to do."
Steele made his latest comments regarding Limbaugh on CNN's "D.L. Hughley Breaks the News," which aired this weekend. The Steele interview was taped before Limbaugh's appearance before the Conservative Political Action Conference, an annual meeting of conservatives from across the nation.
He used his self-described "first national address," which ran more than an hour longer than his allotted 20 minutes, to accuse President Obama of inspiring fear in Americans in order to push a liberal agenda of "big government."
Limbaugh also backed up comments he made earlier this year in which he said he hoped Obama failed.
"What is so strange about being honest and saying I want Barack Obama to fail if his mission is to restructure and re-form this country so that capitalism and individual liberty are not its foundation?" he said.
But a top Republican in Congress disagreed.
"I don't think anyone wants anything to fail right now," House Republican Whip Eric Cantor said on ABC's "This Week." "We have such challenges. What we need to do is we need to put forth solutions to the problems that real families are facing today."
RNC spokesman Alex Conant on Monday did not directly address Steele's comments about Limbaugh but pointed out the back-and-forth between the White House and the conservative radio host.
"Rahm Emanuel and the Democrats know they lose an argument with the Republican Party on substance, so they are building straw men to attack and distract," he said. "The feud between radio host Rush and Rahm makes great political theater, but it is a sideshow to the important work going on in Washington.
"RNC Chairman Michael Steele and elected Republicans are focused on fighting for reform and winning elections. The Democrats' problem is that the American people are growing skeptical of the massive government spending being pushed by congressional leaders like [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi," Conant said.
A spokesman for Limbaugh said the radio host did not have an immediate response, but added he would probably address Steele's comments Monday on his nationally syndicated radio program.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Questions for Lt. Col. Craig Whiteside
1. Do you think embedded journalists in Iraq are useful and provide an accurate portrayal of the war?
2. Would you consider military sources open and willing to provide journalists with accurate information? Or is most information classfied/confidential? Are there stories that should be told but are passed up because the information can't be verified and sources won't to go on the record?
3. In your opinion do the reports on Iraq paint an accurate picture for the public? Or do you think the public has a skewed image of what is going on in Iraq?
4. When you expose the flaws of the military like you did in "Troops Confront Waste in Iraq" do your superiors or colleagues criticize your choice to go public with miliaty mishaps?
5. Do you think the U.S. media acts an objective truth telling force in regards to the war or do you think they show allegiance/favor to the U.S. troops in thier coverage?
2. Would you consider military sources open and willing to provide journalists with accurate information? Or is most information classfied/confidential? Are there stories that should be told but are passed up because the information can't be verified and sources won't to go on the record?
3. In your opinion do the reports on Iraq paint an accurate picture for the public? Or do you think the public has a skewed image of what is going on in Iraq?
4. When you expose the flaws of the military like you did in "Troops Confront Waste in Iraq" do your superiors or colleagues criticize your choice to go public with miliaty mishaps?
5. Do you think the U.S. media acts an objective truth telling force in regards to the war or do you think they show allegiance/favor to the U.S. troops in thier coverage?
Monday, February 16, 2009
Newest US troops in dangerous region near Kabul
… LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Close to 3,000 American soldiers who recently arrived in Afghanistan to secure two violent provinces near Kabul have begun operations in the field and already are seeing combat, the unit's spokesman said Monday.
The new troops are the first wave of an expected surge of reinforcements this year. The process began to take shape under President George Bush but has been given impetus by President Barack Obama's call for an increased focus on Afghanistan.
U.S. commanders have been contemplating sending up to 30,000 more soldiers to bolster the 33,000 already here, but the new administration is expected to initially approve only a portion of that amount. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday the president would decide soon.
The new unit — the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division — moved into Logar and Wardak provinces last month, and the soldiers from Fort Drum, N.Y., are now stationed in combat outposts throughout the provinces.
Militants have attacked several patrols with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, including one ambush by 30 insurgents, Lt. Col. Steve Osterhozer, the brigade spokesman, said.
Several roadside bombs also have exploded next to the unit's MRAPs — mine-resistance patrol vehicles — but caused no casualties, he said.
"In every case our vehicles returned with overwhelming fire," Ostehozer said. "We have not suffered anything more than a few bruises, while several insurgents have been killed."
Commanders are in the planning stages of larger scale operations expected to be launched in the coming weeks.
Militant activity has spiked in Logar and Wardak over the last year as the resurgent Taliban has spread north toward Kabul from its traditional southern power base. Residents say insurgents roam wide swaths of Wardak, a mountainous province whose capital is about 35 miles from Kabul.
The region has been covered in snow recently, but Col. David B. Haight, commander of the 3rd Brigade, said last week that he expects contact with insurgents to increase soon.
"The weather has made it so the enemy activity is somewhat decreased right now, and I expect it to increase in the next two to three months," Haight said at a news conference.
Haight said he believes the increase of militant activity in the two provinces is not ideologically based but stems from poor Afghans being enticed into fighting by their need for money. Quoting the governor of Logar, the colonel called it an "economic war."
Afghan officials "don't believe it's hardcore al-Qaida operatives that you're never going to convert anyway," Haight said. "They believe that it's the guys who say, 'Hey you want $100 to shoot an RPG at a Humvee when it goes by,' and the guy says, 'Yeah I'll do that, because I've got to feed my family.'"
Still, Haight said there are hardcore fighters in the region, some of them allied with Jalaludin Haqqani and his son Siraj, a fighting family with a long history in Afghanistan. The two militant leaders are believed to be in Pakistan.
Logar Gov. Atiqullah Ludin said at a news conference alongside Haight that U.S. troops will need to improve both security and the economic situation.
"There is a gap between the people and the government," Ludin said. "Assistance in Logar is very weak, and the life of the common man has not improved."
Ludin also urged that U.S. forces be careful and not act on bad intelligence to launch night raids on Afghans who turn out to be innocent.
It is a common complaint from Afghan leaders. President Hamid Karzai has long pleaded with U.S. forces not to kill innocent Afghans during military operations and says he hopes to see night raids curtailed.
Pointing to the value of such operations, the U.S. military said Monday that a raid in northwest Badghis province killed a feared militant leader named Ghulam Dastagir and eight other fighters.
Other raids, though, have killed innocent Afghans who were only defending their village against a nighttime incursion by forces they didn't know, officials say.
"We need to step back and look at those carefully, because the danger they carry is exponential," Ludin said.
Haight cautioned last week that civilian casualties could increase with the presence of his 2,700 soldiers.
"We understand the probability of increased civilian casualties is there because of increased U.S. forces," said the colonel, who has also commanded Special Operations task forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. "Our plan is to do no operations without ANA (Afghan army) and ANP (Afghan police), to help us be more precise."
The U.S. military and Afghan Defense Ministry announced last week that Afghan officers and soldiers would take on a greater role in military operations, including in specialized night raids, with the aim of decreasing civilian deaths.
The presence of U.S. troops in Wardak and Logar is the first time such a large contingent of American power has been so close to Kabul, fueling concerns that militants could be massing for a push at the capital. Haight dismissed those fears.
"Our provinces butt up against the southern boundary of Kabul and therefore there is the perception that Kabul could be surrounded," Haight said. "But the enemy cannot threaten Kabul. He's not big enough, he's not strong enough, he doesn't have the technology. He can conduct attacks but he can't completely disrupt the governance in Kabul."
… LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Close to 3,000 American soldiers who recently arrived in Afghanistan to secure two violent provinces near Kabul have begun operations in the field and already are seeing combat, the unit's spokesman said Monday.
The new troops are the first wave of an expected surge of reinforcements this year. The process began to take shape under President George Bush but has been given impetus by President Barack Obama's call for an increased focus on Afghanistan.
U.S. commanders have been contemplating sending up to 30,000 more soldiers to bolster the 33,000 already here, but the new administration is expected to initially approve only a portion of that amount. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday the president would decide soon.
The new unit — the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division — moved into Logar and Wardak provinces last month, and the soldiers from Fort Drum, N.Y., are now stationed in combat outposts throughout the provinces.
Militants have attacked several patrols with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, including one ambush by 30 insurgents, Lt. Col. Steve Osterhozer, the brigade spokesman, said.
Several roadside bombs also have exploded next to the unit's MRAPs — mine-resistance patrol vehicles — but caused no casualties, he said.
"In every case our vehicles returned with overwhelming fire," Ostehozer said. "We have not suffered anything more than a few bruises, while several insurgents have been killed."
Commanders are in the planning stages of larger scale operations expected to be launched in the coming weeks.
Militant activity has spiked in Logar and Wardak over the last year as the resurgent Taliban has spread north toward Kabul from its traditional southern power base. Residents say insurgents roam wide swaths of Wardak, a mountainous province whose capital is about 35 miles from Kabul.
The region has been covered in snow recently, but Col. David B. Haight, commander of the 3rd Brigade, said last week that he expects contact with insurgents to increase soon.
"The weather has made it so the enemy activity is somewhat decreased right now, and I expect it to increase in the next two to three months," Haight said at a news conference.
Haight said he believes the increase of militant activity in the two provinces is not ideologically based but stems from poor Afghans being enticed into fighting by their need for money. Quoting the governor of Logar, the colonel called it an "economic war."
Afghan officials "don't believe it's hardcore al-Qaida operatives that you're never going to convert anyway," Haight said. "They believe that it's the guys who say, 'Hey you want $100 to shoot an RPG at a Humvee when it goes by,' and the guy says, 'Yeah I'll do that, because I've got to feed my family.'"
Still, Haight said there are hardcore fighters in the region, some of them allied with Jalaludin Haqqani and his son Siraj, a fighting family with a long history in Afghanistan. The two militant leaders are believed to be in Pakistan.
Logar Gov. Atiqullah Ludin said at a news conference alongside Haight that U.S. troops will need to improve both security and the economic situation.
"There is a gap between the people and the government," Ludin said. "Assistance in Logar is very weak, and the life of the common man has not improved."
Ludin also urged that U.S. forces be careful and not act on bad intelligence to launch night raids on Afghans who turn out to be innocent.
It is a common complaint from Afghan leaders. President Hamid Karzai has long pleaded with U.S. forces not to kill innocent Afghans during military operations and says he hopes to see night raids curtailed.
Pointing to the value of such operations, the U.S. military said Monday that a raid in northwest Badghis province killed a feared militant leader named Ghulam Dastagir and eight other fighters.
Other raids, though, have killed innocent Afghans who were only defending their village against a nighttime incursion by forces they didn't know, officials say.
"We need to step back and look at those carefully, because the danger they carry is exponential," Ludin said.
Haight cautioned last week that civilian casualties could increase with the presence of his 2,700 soldiers.
"We understand the probability of increased civilian casualties is there because of increased U.S. forces," said the colonel, who has also commanded Special Operations task forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. "Our plan is to do no operations without ANA (Afghan army) and ANP (Afghan police), to help us be more precise."
The U.S. military and Afghan Defense Ministry announced last week that Afghan officers and soldiers would take on a greater role in military operations, including in specialized night raids, with the aim of decreasing civilian deaths.
The presence of U.S. troops in Wardak and Logar is the first time such a large contingent of American power has been so close to Kabul, fueling concerns that militants could be massing for a push at the capital. Haight dismissed those fears.
"Our provinces butt up against the southern boundary of Kabul and therefore there is the perception that Kabul could be surrounded," Haight said. "But the enemy cannot threaten Kabul. He's not big enough, he's not strong enough, he doesn't have the technology. He can conduct attacks but he can't completely disrupt the governance in Kabul."
Clinton bypassing Europe, heading for Asia, on first trip as Secretary of State
TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Japan Monday to begin a week-long trip through four Asian nations, looking to begin building new international relationships to help tackle some of the world's toughest challenges.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at Haneda International Airport, Tokyo, Japan, Monday.
Speaking to reporters en route to Tokyo, Clinton said "going to Asia is, for me, a very big part of how we're going to demonstrate the Obama administration's approach to dealing with the multitude of problems that we see, but also the opportunities as well."
Her visits to Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and China will include discussions on a host of sensitive topics, from climate change to nuclear proliferation. And Clinton vowed that she will not be "shying away from talking about human rights issues."
But there will likely be few fireworks or confrontations. "I think it's fair to say that this first trip will be one intended to really find a path forward, to have as robust an engagement as possible on a range of issues," she said.
Clinton added: "I chose to go to Asia deliberately in order to send that message that we are reaching out. We do see Asia as part of America's future."
Her meetings will not be limited to government officials, Clinton said, "because I think it's important that we get out of the ministerial buildings and listen to the people in the countries where I'll be visiting. So to that end, I'll be doing town halls and visits in areas of concern that we can discuss with NGO leaders and local officials."
Clinton has had official travels through Asia previously, dating back to when her husband was U.S. president. She described the trip as "an opportunity to renew relationships with some people that I've known before" and to speak face-to-face with "those with whom I'll be meeting for the first time."
The backdrop for the visit is the global economic crisis, she said. All four nations are members of the G-20, which is composed of financial leaders of 19 nations and the European Union. The group was formed in the late 1990s to bring together key figures to help improve the world economy. The next G-20 meeting is in London in April.
"I will be discussing with them the approaches that each are taking, explaining what we have just done with the passage of our stimulus bill, and seeking greater cooperation about how together we're going to work our way through these very difficult economic times," Clinton said.
TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Japan Monday to begin a week-long trip through four Asian nations, looking to begin building new international relationships to help tackle some of the world's toughest challenges.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at Haneda International Airport, Tokyo, Japan, Monday.
Speaking to reporters en route to Tokyo, Clinton said "going to Asia is, for me, a very big part of how we're going to demonstrate the Obama administration's approach to dealing with the multitude of problems that we see, but also the opportunities as well."
Her visits to Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and China will include discussions on a host of sensitive topics, from climate change to nuclear proliferation. And Clinton vowed that she will not be "shying away from talking about human rights issues."
But there will likely be few fireworks or confrontations. "I think it's fair to say that this first trip will be one intended to really find a path forward, to have as robust an engagement as possible on a range of issues," she said.
Clinton added: "I chose to go to Asia deliberately in order to send that message that we are reaching out. We do see Asia as part of America's future."
Her meetings will not be limited to government officials, Clinton said, "because I think it's important that we get out of the ministerial buildings and listen to the people in the countries where I'll be visiting. So to that end, I'll be doing town halls and visits in areas of concern that we can discuss with NGO leaders and local officials."
Clinton has had official travels through Asia previously, dating back to when her husband was U.S. president. She described the trip as "an opportunity to renew relationships with some people that I've known before" and to speak face-to-face with "those with whom I'll be meeting for the first time."
The backdrop for the visit is the global economic crisis, she said. All four nations are members of the G-20, which is composed of financial leaders of 19 nations and the European Union. The group was formed in the late 1990s to bring together key figures to help improve the world economy. The next G-20 meeting is in London in April.
"I will be discussing with them the approaches that each are taking, explaining what we have just done with the passage of our stimulus bill, and seeking greater cooperation about how together we're going to work our way through these very difficult economic times," Clinton said.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens proved a provocative and intelligent figure. His knowledge of history and powerful rhetoric made most people in the audotorium instant believers, or rather in this case nonbelievers. Only a few people challenged Hitchens and they were definitely not on equal ground as the idolized speaker. Hitchens has the characteristics of an excellent journalist. He is multilingual, worldly, well versed, and unintimidated by reporting from countries including Iran, Iraq, N.Korea, and Cuba.
Hitchens possesses the same assertive nature of Andrew Schneider, although I am the first to admit Schneider was a much more approachable and down to earth person. But what makes both of them such noble journalists? I think has something to do with the chances they take and their drive to find the truth at any cost. They both have an assertive nature and are not afraid to ask tough questions. I think both of them would die in Comm 295 if they had to write "....," Bob said. They are openly opinionated and write with distinct voice.
I am glad I went to see Hitchens speak, now I know Jefferson and Lincoln are atheists...who knew! On a more serious note seeing someone of such notoriety and intelligence is a great reminder of how thought provoking true and authentic journalism can be.
Hitchens possesses the same assertive nature of Andrew Schneider, although I am the first to admit Schneider was a much more approachable and down to earth person. But what makes both of them such noble journalists? I think has something to do with the chances they take and their drive to find the truth at any cost. They both have an assertive nature and are not afraid to ask tough questions. I think both of them would die in Comm 295 if they had to write "....," Bob said. They are openly opinionated and write with distinct voice.
I am glad I went to see Hitchens speak, now I know Jefferson and Lincoln are atheists...who knew! On a more serious note seeing someone of such notoriety and intelligence is a great reminder of how thought provoking true and authentic journalism can be.
Senate Bill Aims to Conserve Energy and Stimulate Washington’s Economy
Cassidy Gardner
The Energy Office of Washington State University may be a key player in weatherizing homes across Washington and stimulating the state’s economy.
The Energy Office of WSU operates out of Olympia and is the only state funded and state sanctioned energy office.
Currently Senate Bill 5649 is being decided on, the overarching goal of the bill is to weatherize 20,000 homes a year for the next five years in Washington. If passed the fiscal note estimates the cost to implement the bill will be nearly $1.7 million dollars.
Weatherization refers to improving the energy efficiency in structures. This is commonly achieved by practices including but not limited to upgrading heating and ventilation or by putting in new insulation.
Sheila Riggs, the communications legislative and administrative division manager of the Energy Office of WSU, said she is in favor of the bill and signed in pro at the initial hearing of the bill.
The bill is currently being refined and reworded. Sen. Phil Rockefeller is the lead sponsor of the bill. He is also the chair of the Environment and Water Committee.
According to Riggs, Rockefeller has encouraged the Office of Energy of WSU to work with energy providers from across the state to make the bill as effective as possible.
The main objective of the bill is to weatherize residential homes, farms, and commercial buildings that have an annual revenue of less than $1 million a year. Low-income residents will receive priority funding to weatherize their homes.
Amanda Stauffer, an intern in the office of Sen. Tim Sheldon, who is also sponsoring the bill, said the Energy Office of WSU will be responsible for developing and implementing an effective system for allocating grants on a competitive basis.
She went on to say, “People sponsoring this bill see it as a way to stimulate the economy. One of the key goals of the bill is to create 7,500 jobs. It will employee energy auditors and work will be contracted out to businesses in communities across the state.”
Dale Miller, the manager of housing development for the Community Action Center of Whitman County, said he has been expecting the weatherization of homes to be ramped up because President Barack Obama has put much emphasis on significantly increasing weatherization.
In the federal economic stimulus package it is proposed that one million homes be weatherized per year for the next five years.
“We already have plans ready to ramp up how many buildings and homes we will be weatherizing in Whitman County. They are just dependent on different levels of funding that is offered, Miller said. “Right now we have our own crew of auditors who analyze whether it is effective to weatherize homes. But if we get the additional funding we may be hiring a construction manager, maybe an enthusiastic WSU graduate to manage all of our projects.”
Currently 30-40 homes are being weatherized a year in Whitman County. Miller said more like 300 homes should be weatherized a year because more than 3,000 homes in Whitman County are in need of the service.
“When you weatherize homes you reduce the amount of energy needed. Using less energy reduces the cost. People take the money they would spend on their heating bill and spend it elsewhere, stimulating the economy,” Miller said.
He went on to say weatherization in Pullman means more work for local electricians, plumbers, and contractors.
“Overall weatherizing is good a thing because conserving energy is the first step to reducing our dependence on foreign resources and it saves families money. Making existing buildings energy efficient is the first step to becoming a sustainable community,” Miller said.
To obtain funding, businesses, residences, and farms in Pullman would file a request with Community Action Center of Whitman County. Low-income residents, meaning they make less than 80 percent of the mean local income, will be given priority to funding. The residence or building is then audited and it is determined whether weatherization is cost effective. In Whitman County there is a 20 year payback threshold, meaning weatherization is considered cost effective if the money spent to weatherize will be saved in the next 20 years.
If the bill is passed this will be the first time Whitman County will be auditing and weatherizing farms and local businesses, prior to this bill they have focused solely on homes and individual residences.
Riggs said, “It would be very exciting to get the money to fund this project because weatherization is a very important issue for the entire state.”
Sources:
Amanda Stauffer
(360) 786-7999
Sheila Riggs
(360) 956-2074
Dale Miller
(509) 334-9147
Cassidy Gardner
The Energy Office of Washington State University may be a key player in weatherizing homes across Washington and stimulating the state’s economy.
The Energy Office of WSU operates out of Olympia and is the only state funded and state sanctioned energy office.
Currently Senate Bill 5649 is being decided on, the overarching goal of the bill is to weatherize 20,000 homes a year for the next five years in Washington. If passed the fiscal note estimates the cost to implement the bill will be nearly $1.7 million dollars.
Weatherization refers to improving the energy efficiency in structures. This is commonly achieved by practices including but not limited to upgrading heating and ventilation or by putting in new insulation.
Sheila Riggs, the communications legislative and administrative division manager of the Energy Office of WSU, said she is in favor of the bill and signed in pro at the initial hearing of the bill.
The bill is currently being refined and reworded. Sen. Phil Rockefeller is the lead sponsor of the bill. He is also the chair of the Environment and Water Committee.
According to Riggs, Rockefeller has encouraged the Office of Energy of WSU to work with energy providers from across the state to make the bill as effective as possible.
The main objective of the bill is to weatherize residential homes, farms, and commercial buildings that have an annual revenue of less than $1 million a year. Low-income residents will receive priority funding to weatherize their homes.
Amanda Stauffer, an intern in the office of Sen. Tim Sheldon, who is also sponsoring the bill, said the Energy Office of WSU will be responsible for developing and implementing an effective system for allocating grants on a competitive basis.
She went on to say, “People sponsoring this bill see it as a way to stimulate the economy. One of the key goals of the bill is to create 7,500 jobs. It will employee energy auditors and work will be contracted out to businesses in communities across the state.”
Dale Miller, the manager of housing development for the Community Action Center of Whitman County, said he has been expecting the weatherization of homes to be ramped up because President Barack Obama has put much emphasis on significantly increasing weatherization.
In the federal economic stimulus package it is proposed that one million homes be weatherized per year for the next five years.
“We already have plans ready to ramp up how many buildings and homes we will be weatherizing in Whitman County. They are just dependent on different levels of funding that is offered, Miller said. “Right now we have our own crew of auditors who analyze whether it is effective to weatherize homes. But if we get the additional funding we may be hiring a construction manager, maybe an enthusiastic WSU graduate to manage all of our projects.”
Currently 30-40 homes are being weatherized a year in Whitman County. Miller said more like 300 homes should be weatherized a year because more than 3,000 homes in Whitman County are in need of the service.
“When you weatherize homes you reduce the amount of energy needed. Using less energy reduces the cost. People take the money they would spend on their heating bill and spend it elsewhere, stimulating the economy,” Miller said.
He went on to say weatherization in Pullman means more work for local electricians, plumbers, and contractors.
“Overall weatherizing is good a thing because conserving energy is the first step to reducing our dependence on foreign resources and it saves families money. Making existing buildings energy efficient is the first step to becoming a sustainable community,” Miller said.
To obtain funding, businesses, residences, and farms in Pullman would file a request with Community Action Center of Whitman County. Low-income residents, meaning they make less than 80 percent of the mean local income, will be given priority to funding. The residence or building is then audited and it is determined whether weatherization is cost effective. In Whitman County there is a 20 year payback threshold, meaning weatherization is considered cost effective if the money spent to weatherize will be saved in the next 20 years.
If the bill is passed this will be the first time Whitman County will be auditing and weatherizing farms and local businesses, prior to this bill they have focused solely on homes and individual residences.
Riggs said, “It would be very exciting to get the money to fund this project because weatherization is a very important issue for the entire state.”
Sources:
Amanda Stauffer
(360) 786-7999
Sheila Riggs
(360) 956-2074
Dale Miller
(509) 334-9147
Sunday, February 8, 2009
February 8, 2009
Payments to sister's company were 'legitimate,' Steele says
From CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart
RNC chairman Michael Steele responded Sunday to a recent Washington Post report.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – New Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele said Sunday that payments to his sister’s company by his 2006 Senate campaign were proper.
Steele’s former finance chairman alleged in documents provided to federal prosecutors that Steele arranged for his Senate campaign to pay tens of thousands of dollars to a company owned by his sister, according to a report by the Washington Post published Saturday.
Alan B. Fabian, the former Steele aide, alleged that the company never performed any services for the campaign in exchange for the money and the Post reported that the company was defunct at the time the payment was made.
“It was a legitimate reimbursement of expenses, Steele told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos Sunday. “If my sister had not been reimbursed, I and she would have been in violation of McCain-Feingold finance law,” Steele added.
“Those allegations were leveled by a convicted felon who was trying to get a reduced sentence on his conviction,” Steele said of Fabian.
Steele told Stephanopoulos that the payment was made to reimburse his sister’s company at a time when her lawyers were in the process of dissolving the company.
Payments to sister's company were 'legitimate,' Steele says
From CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart
RNC chairman Michael Steele responded Sunday to a recent Washington Post report.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – New Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele said Sunday that payments to his sister’s company by his 2006 Senate campaign were proper.
Steele’s former finance chairman alleged in documents provided to federal prosecutors that Steele arranged for his Senate campaign to pay tens of thousands of dollars to a company owned by his sister, according to a report by the Washington Post published Saturday.
Alan B. Fabian, the former Steele aide, alleged that the company never performed any services for the campaign in exchange for the money and the Post reported that the company was defunct at the time the payment was made.
“It was a legitimate reimbursement of expenses, Steele told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos Sunday. “If my sister had not been reimbursed, I and she would have been in violation of McCain-Feingold finance law,” Steele added.
“Those allegations were leveled by a convicted felon who was trying to get a reduced sentence on his conviction,” Steele said of Fabian.
Steele told Stephanopoulos that the payment was made to reimburse his sister’s company at a time when her lawyers were in the process of dissolving the company.
Obama fires up House Democrats to help push through stimulus
WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia (CNN) -- President Barack Obama said Thursday that "the scale and the scope" of his economic plan is right, turning up the heat on critics he said were hawking "phony arguments" and "false theories of the past" to chip away at the bill's programs.
President Obama said if a stimulus bill isn't passed the economy will continue to get worse.
"Don't come to the table with the same tired arguments and worn ideas that helped to create this crisis," the president said at the House Democrats' annual retreat in Williamsburg.
"We're not going to get relief by turning back to the very same policies that, for the last eight years, doubled the national debt and threw our economy into a tailspin," he said. "We can't embrace the losing formula that says only tax cuts will work for every problem we face, that ignores critical challenges like our addiction to foreign oil, or the soaring cost of health care, or failing schools and crumbling bridges and roads and levees.
"I don't care whether you're driving a hybrid or an SUV -- if you're headed for a cliff, you've got to change direction."
The Democrats welcomed the president with frequent interruptions for applause as he took on criticisms of the bill.
Obama said he valued "the constructive criticism and healthy debate that's taking place around this package," but added that speedy passage of the bill was essential.
"We're not moving quickly because we're trying to jam something down people's throats," he said. "We're moving quickly because if we don't, the economy's going to keep getting worse."
Obama rejected calls for more tax cuts and significant slashing of the bill's more than $800 billion price tag, and said complaints the package was a spending bill rather than a stimulus bill were off base.
"What do you think a stimulus bill is?" he said. "That's the point."
To critics who argue that the government shouldn't be spending billions with a large and growing deficit, Obama said, "I found this national debt doubled, wrapped in a big bow waiting for me as I stepped into the Oval Office."
The American people called for change in November, he said, "and that's what we're going to deliver."
"They did not send us here to get bogged down with the same old delay, the same old distractions, the same talking points, the same cable chatter," he said. "They did not vote for the false theories of the past, and they didn't vote for phony arguments and petty politics, and they did not vote for the status quo."
Obama told his fellow Democrats that they have "the capacity to do great things" on behalf of the American people, "but we are going to have to do it by not thinking about ourselves."
"It starts with this economic recovery plan," he said. "And soon, we will take on big issues like addressing the foreclosure problem, passing a budget, tackling our fiscal problems, fixing our financial regulation and securing our country."
But, he stressed, the battle over the stimulus bill is not "an abstract debate."
"If we do not move swiftly to sign [the act] into law, an economy that is already in crisis will be faced with catastrophe," he said. "This is not my assessment. This is not Nancy Pelosi's assessment. This is the assessment of the best economists in the country. This is the assessment of some of the former advisers of some of the same folks who are making these criticisms right now."
"This is not a game," he said. "This is not a contest for who's in power and who's up and who's down."
It's time, he said, to "set aside the gamesmanship in this town and get something done."
Behind closed doors after his speech, Obama fielded a handful of questions from House Democrats.
Asked about Afghanistan, Obama pointed to a number of reviews under way -- including ones by his national security team and by the U.S. Central Command -- of U.S. strategy in Afghanistan.
The United States cannot win there by military means alone, Obama said. He stressed the need to make sure that Afghanistan does not become a safe haven for terrorists. The president highlighted the importance of diplomatic efforts in Pakistan as well.
On the subject of fiscal discipline, Obama referred to the economic stimulus package, getting credit going again so small businesses can get loans, stemming home foreclosures with next expenditure of the Troubled Assets Relief Program, and the executive compensation limits his administration set this week for businesses that accept taxpayer bailouts.
Asked whether he would lift the ban on stem cell research, the president promised to sign an executive order to do so. Obama said he wants to coordinate with House and Senate leadership to craft an executive order - based on science, fact and reason -- strong enough to avoid a quick reversal. Obama's comments impressed Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Louisiana.
The president "said he'd rather do what's right and serve one term than just do what's politically good and be a mediocre president and get to serve two terms," Melancon said.
Melancon, a fiscal conservative, said he didn't support every program in the House bill.
"We couldn't explain some of them," he said. For instance, "how does giving out condoms put people back to work?"
But Melancon criticized Republicans who focused on only a small fraction of the stimulus bill, calling it "chump change."
He acknowledged that although a stimulus package might not work, he said Congress needs to act or risk "total collapse" of the economy.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland praised Republicans who voted with Democrats and said they showed true bipartisanship. But he railed against the Republican leadership, which told its members to vote against the original stimulus bill.
"Now they seem to be fired up and ready to say 'no,' Hoyer said. "We hope that they will change their minds."
Republicans have blasted numerous measures in the $819 billion stimulus package that the House passed last week, such as funding for veterans in the Philippines, sod on the National Mall and honey bee insurance. Such provisions have nothing to do with stimulating the economy, Republicans say.
Hoyer acknowledged a need for compromise on some points important to the Democrat leadership, but he declined to specify what he'd be willing to sacrifice to get the bill passed.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Legislature Story Proposals
1. The House Bill 1096, which is aimed at "enhancing small business participation in state purchasing" will require the Department of General Administration to develop procedures that give a "7 percent bidding preference to small business bidders in the state's purchasing of goods and services." This also applies to higher education institutions, like WSU. It would be interesting to see if WSU would be contracting businesses from the Pullman area or from the west side. I would like to see how this bill will impact the relationship between government entities and small businesses.
2. Senate Bill 5639 addresses the Energy Efficiency Assistance Program that is being created within the Energy Office at WSU. This program must coordinate with the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED). CTED is traditionally responsible for contracing weatherization projects. This program will provide grants and technical assistance for commercial buildings buildings with less than $1 million annual revenue in the past five years. It also helps to maximize the CTED program assistance for low-and-middle-inome households. I would like to look at how this program will operate at WSU and what it will mean for Pullman households.
3. Senate Bill 5252 addresses the distribution of pharmaceuticals in correctional facilities(like jails). Jails are authorized to provide medicatiosn for inmates by trained personnel. I would like to look at what this bill looks like in the Whitman County Jail and how they deal with adminstering pharmaceuticals and medical care to inmates.
2. Senate Bill 5639 addresses the Energy Efficiency Assistance Program that is being created within the Energy Office at WSU. This program must coordinate with the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED). CTED is traditionally responsible for contracing weatherization projects. This program will provide grants and technical assistance for commercial buildings buildings with less than $1 million annual revenue in the past five years. It also helps to maximize the CTED program assistance for low-and-middle-inome households. I would like to look at how this program will operate at WSU and what it will mean for Pullman households.
3. Senate Bill 5252 addresses the distribution of pharmaceuticals in correctional facilities(like jails). Jails are authorized to provide medicatiosn for inmates by trained personnel. I would like to look at what this bill looks like in the Whitman County Jail and how they deal with adminstering pharmaceuticals and medical care to inmates.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Bucking tradition, Clinton to head for Asia
Hillary Clinton will bypass Europe and travel to Asia on her maiden voyage overseas
From Elise Labott
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Bucking tradition, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will bypass Europe and travel to Asia on her maiden voyage overseas, diplomats familiar with the planning said Tuesday.
Bill Clinton looks at his wife Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as she is sworn in on February 2.
Clinton is expected to visit China, Japan and South Korea on her first trip overseas. The diplomats said she may also add other stops, including one in Southeast Asia.
The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because Clinton's schedule was still being finalized. The State Department has not commented on her travel plans.
Making Asia Clinton's first overseas destination illustrates the Obama administration's desire for a broader partnership with China and its commitment to resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, as well as strengthening ties with Tokyo and Seoul, the diplomats said.
The White House said President Barack Obama told Chinese President Hu Jintao in a Friday phone call that he looked forward to "to early contacts and exchanges between senior officials of our two countries."
Clinton told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month she hoped to make an early trip to Southeast Asia, in particular Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation where Obama spent part of his childhood. Clinton said she wanted to restart Peace Corps programs there, which were suspended in the 1960s.
However British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and German Foreign Secretary Walter Steinmeier will be Clinton's first foreign guests to the State Department on Tuesday.
Clinton was sworn in as America's 67th secretary of state on Monday -- for a second time. Watch Clinton being sworn in »
Biden administered the oath to Clinton in a ceremonial star-studded gathering at the State Department, with actor Chevy Chase and designer Oscar de la Renta among those on hand.
"It is an overwhelming honor ... to assume this position," Clinton said. "We have a lot of work to do [to ensure that] America's future can be even brighter than our storied past."
Holder becomes attorney general
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Eric Holder was sworn in Tuesday as U.S. attorney general, becoming the first African-American to lead the Department of Justice on a permanent basis.
Vice President Joe Biden swears in Eric Holder, left, as attorney general Tuesday at the Justice Department.
Vice President Joe Biden administered the oath of office after reading the Justice Department's mission statement.
"There's no mention of politics in that statement. There's no mention of ideology," Biden said. "And that's as it should be."
Loud cheers and long applause followed Holder's taking of the oath.
"Nowhere but in this great country could a person like me or the president hope to achieve the positions we are now so fortunate to hold," Holder said.
By a 75-21 vote, the U.S. Senate on Monday confirmed President Obama's nomination of Holder.
Holder, 58, is a former federal prosecutor and served as deputy attorney general during the Clinton administration. He was briefly acting attorney general in early 2001.
Don't Miss
Senate confirms Holder nomination
Holder takes over a Justice Department battered by a series of controversies during the Bush administration, from questions about how it laid legal groundwork for harsh interrogations of suspected terrorists to the firings of top federal prosecutors in several cities.
"There's a big job to do, and it's going to be Mr. Holder's duty to turn this department around and restore its credibility," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California.
During confirmation hearings, Republicans questioned his role in former President Bill Clinton's widely criticized last-minute pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich and questioned whether he would be independent of the White House.
Holder had a testy exchange with the Senate Judiciary Committee's ranking Republican, Arlen Specter, who questioned Holder's "fitness" for the office.
Holder shot back that Specter was "getting close to the line in questioning my integrity," and Specter ultimately supported the nomination. But Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Kentucky, cited the pardons and what he called Holder's insufficient support for gun rights in opposing the nomination.
"Mr. Holder is supportive of old ideas for gun control that have never made people safer at the expense of taking away their rights," Bunning said.
All 21 of the "no" votes were Republicans, but more than a dozen GOP senators joined Democrats in confirming Holder. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Missouri, said Holder convinced him he would be "looking forward to keeping the nation safe."
Bond, the ranking Republican on the Intelligence Committee, raised concerns that the administration would seek to prosecute U.S. officials involved in using what the Bush administration called "alternative" interrogation techniques, measures that critics said involved the torture of prisoners in U.S. custody.
Holder unambiguously called the use of waterboarding against suspected terrorists a form of torture that violated the Geneva Conventions, but he has said that prosecuting intelligence officials who followed Justice Department guidance would be "difficult."
Bond said that while Holder's answer focused on U.S. officials who were following the administration's legal advice, "I told him, and I believe he understood, that trying to prosecute these lawyers or political leaders would generate a political firestorm."
Hillary Clinton will bypass Europe and travel to Asia on her maiden voyage overseas
From Elise Labott
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Bucking tradition, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will bypass Europe and travel to Asia on her maiden voyage overseas, diplomats familiar with the planning said Tuesday.
Bill Clinton looks at his wife Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as she is sworn in on February 2.
Clinton is expected to visit China, Japan and South Korea on her first trip overseas. The diplomats said she may also add other stops, including one in Southeast Asia.
The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because Clinton's schedule was still being finalized. The State Department has not commented on her travel plans.
Making Asia Clinton's first overseas destination illustrates the Obama administration's desire for a broader partnership with China and its commitment to resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, as well as strengthening ties with Tokyo and Seoul, the diplomats said.
The White House said President Barack Obama told Chinese President Hu Jintao in a Friday phone call that he looked forward to "to early contacts and exchanges between senior officials of our two countries."
Clinton told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month she hoped to make an early trip to Southeast Asia, in particular Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation where Obama spent part of his childhood. Clinton said she wanted to restart Peace Corps programs there, which were suspended in the 1960s.
However British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and German Foreign Secretary Walter Steinmeier will be Clinton's first foreign guests to the State Department on Tuesday.
Clinton was sworn in as America's 67th secretary of state on Monday -- for a second time. Watch Clinton being sworn in »
Biden administered the oath to Clinton in a ceremonial star-studded gathering at the State Department, with actor Chevy Chase and designer Oscar de la Renta among those on hand.
"It is an overwhelming honor ... to assume this position," Clinton said. "We have a lot of work to do [to ensure that] America's future can be even brighter than our storied past."
Holder becomes attorney general
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Eric Holder was sworn in Tuesday as U.S. attorney general, becoming the first African-American to lead the Department of Justice on a permanent basis.
Vice President Joe Biden swears in Eric Holder, left, as attorney general Tuesday at the Justice Department.
Vice President Joe Biden administered the oath of office after reading the Justice Department's mission statement.
"There's no mention of politics in that statement. There's no mention of ideology," Biden said. "And that's as it should be."
Loud cheers and long applause followed Holder's taking of the oath.
"Nowhere but in this great country could a person like me or the president hope to achieve the positions we are now so fortunate to hold," Holder said.
By a 75-21 vote, the U.S. Senate on Monday confirmed President Obama's nomination of Holder.
Holder, 58, is a former federal prosecutor and served as deputy attorney general during the Clinton administration. He was briefly acting attorney general in early 2001.
Don't Miss
Senate confirms Holder nomination
Holder takes over a Justice Department battered by a series of controversies during the Bush administration, from questions about how it laid legal groundwork for harsh interrogations of suspected terrorists to the firings of top federal prosecutors in several cities.
"There's a big job to do, and it's going to be Mr. Holder's duty to turn this department around and restore its credibility," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California.
During confirmation hearings, Republicans questioned his role in former President Bill Clinton's widely criticized last-minute pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich and questioned whether he would be independent of the White House.
Holder had a testy exchange with the Senate Judiciary Committee's ranking Republican, Arlen Specter, who questioned Holder's "fitness" for the office.
Holder shot back that Specter was "getting close to the line in questioning my integrity," and Specter ultimately supported the nomination. But Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Kentucky, cited the pardons and what he called Holder's insufficient support for gun rights in opposing the nomination.
"Mr. Holder is supportive of old ideas for gun control that have never made people safer at the expense of taking away their rights," Bunning said.
All 21 of the "no" votes were Republicans, but more than a dozen GOP senators joined Democrats in confirming Holder. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Missouri, said Holder convinced him he would be "looking forward to keeping the nation safe."
Bond, the ranking Republican on the Intelligence Committee, raised concerns that the administration would seek to prosecute U.S. officials involved in using what the Bush administration called "alternative" interrogation techniques, measures that critics said involved the torture of prisoners in U.S. custody.
Holder unambiguously called the use of waterboarding against suspected terrorists a form of torture that violated the Geneva Conventions, but he has said that prosecuting intelligence officials who followed Justice Department guidance would be "difficult."
Bond said that while Holder's answer focused on U.S. officials who were following the administration's legal advice, "I told him, and I believe he understood, that trying to prosecute these lawyers or political leaders would generate a political firestorm."
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Greater Demand for Financial Aid and Scholarships at WSU
Cassidy Gardner
With the current economic downturn more Washington State University students are applying for scholarships and financial aid than in previous years.
WSU Scholarship Services are accepting scholarship applications until Jan. 31, but they are already experiencing an increase of 10 percent in scholarship applications compared to last year.
Patty Winder, the assistant director of WSU Scholarship Services, said there is a larger applicant pool this year, but the scholarship availability has not increased.
According to WSU Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarship Services there has also been an increase in the number of received FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) applications.
In the 2008-2009 school year there were 2,255 more FAFSA applications received at WSU than the previous school year. This is approximately a 9 percent increase. FAFSA applications for the 2009-2010 school year have just began to be filed.
Oscar Verduzco, client services coordinator of WSU Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Services, said he is anticipating an increase in FAFSA applications for the 2009-2010 school year because of the state of the economy.
He also said he is hopeful financial aid funding for the 2009-2010 school year will be at least equal to that of the 2008-2009 school year.
“In this economic downturn there have been changes made in financial aid. For instance, the Stafford Loan has been increased by $2,000. And due to the outcry of parents the PLUS loan repayment has been deferred to post graduation,” Verduzco said.
“The financial aid department may lose a counselor or two and we are going to be
moving publications on-line to reduce costs, but funding for students should be the same,” Verduzco said.
He went on to say, “Institutional grants are supported by tuition funds. So as long as tuition stays up those funds should be there.”
Rachel McElwee, a junior at WSU, said she is feeling heightened pressure to get extra scholarships and funding so she can return in the fall to complete her degree.
“Even though President Floyd said he doesn’t want these budget cuts to be put on the backs of students, I still feel a lot of pressure because this economic crisis impacts families like my own. Now all of a sudden I have to come up with extra money and this is the worst economy to do it in,” McElwee said.
Verduzco said he has observed an increase in worry and questions from students about financial aid.
University Budget Committee Provost and Executive Vice President Warwick M. Bayly said in an e-mail, “One thing is for sure, neither the president nor I want students to be impacted at all if we can avoid it, and if it is unavoidable, then we want the impact to be as minor as possible. Clearly this is a tall task, especially as the situation seems to grow bleaker each week.”
Sources:
Provost Warwick Bayly:
509-335-5581
Patty Winder:
509-335-1004
Oscar Verduzco:
509-335-9722
Rachel McElwee:
360-509-3890
With the current economic downturn more Washington State University students are applying for scholarships and financial aid than in previous years.
WSU Scholarship Services are accepting scholarship applications until Jan. 31, but they are already experiencing an increase of 10 percent in scholarship applications compared to last year.
Patty Winder, the assistant director of WSU Scholarship Services, said there is a larger applicant pool this year, but the scholarship availability has not increased.
According to WSU Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarship Services there has also been an increase in the number of received FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) applications.
In the 2008-2009 school year there were 2,255 more FAFSA applications received at WSU than the previous school year. This is approximately a 9 percent increase. FAFSA applications for the 2009-2010 school year have just began to be filed.
Oscar Verduzco, client services coordinator of WSU Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Services, said he is anticipating an increase in FAFSA applications for the 2009-2010 school year because of the state of the economy.
He also said he is hopeful financial aid funding for the 2009-2010 school year will be at least equal to that of the 2008-2009 school year.
“In this economic downturn there have been changes made in financial aid. For instance, the Stafford Loan has been increased by $2,000. And due to the outcry of parents the PLUS loan repayment has been deferred to post graduation,” Verduzco said.
“The financial aid department may lose a counselor or two and we are going to be
moving publications on-line to reduce costs, but funding for students should be the same,” Verduzco said.
He went on to say, “Institutional grants are supported by tuition funds. So as long as tuition stays up those funds should be there.”
Rachel McElwee, a junior at WSU, said she is feeling heightened pressure to get extra scholarships and funding so she can return in the fall to complete her degree.
“Even though President Floyd said he doesn’t want these budget cuts to be put on the backs of students, I still feel a lot of pressure because this economic crisis impacts families like my own. Now all of a sudden I have to come up with extra money and this is the worst economy to do it in,” McElwee said.
Verduzco said he has observed an increase in worry and questions from students about financial aid.
University Budget Committee Provost and Executive Vice President Warwick M. Bayly said in an e-mail, “One thing is for sure, neither the president nor I want students to be impacted at all if we can avoid it, and if it is unavoidable, then we want the impact to be as minor as possible. Clearly this is a tall task, especially as the situation seems to grow bleaker each week.”
Sources:
Provost Warwick Bayly:
509-335-5581
Patty Winder:
509-335-1004
Oscar Verduzco:
509-335-9722
Rachel McElwee:
360-509-3890
Questions for Andrew Schneider
1. Do you think that there are enough people looking over large companies, such as W.R. Grace Co. and their exploitation of small communities both in and out of our country? Does it scare you that there are less journalists, will corporations be held less accountable?
2. When you were covering the asbestos tragedy in Libby, Montana were the families willing to talk to you? Did they feel that you gave them a voice?
3. When you are creating a series such as Presumed Guilty or Uncivil Action do you write one article and then decide if there is more to be reported on or do you go into it with the intention of writing a series?
4. What do you think the impact has been of your coverage of the tragedy of Libby, Montana and other environmental catastrophes? How has it impacted the way the people think about public health and air quality/environmental standards and regulations?
5. Do you feel a commitment to social justice and a commitment to representing those who have been wronged by powerful corporations/government?
6. What do you think are the most pressing environmental issues at this time?
2. When you were covering the asbestos tragedy in Libby, Montana were the families willing to talk to you? Did they feel that you gave them a voice?
3. When you are creating a series such as Presumed Guilty or Uncivil Action do you write one article and then decide if there is more to be reported on or do you go into it with the intention of writing a series?
4. What do you think the impact has been of your coverage of the tragedy of Libby, Montana and other environmental catastrophes? How has it impacted the way the people think about public health and air quality/environmental standards and regulations?
5. Do you feel a commitment to social justice and a commitment to representing those who have been wronged by powerful corporations/government?
6. What do you think are the most pressing environmental issues at this time?
Monday, January 26, 2009
Current Politcal News
"Senate OKs Geithner for Treasury
President Obama's pick survives failure to pay some taxes in 2001"
WASHINGTON - The Senate voted to confirm Timothy Geithner, President Barack Obama's pick for treasury secretary, Monday evening, after delaying a vote because Geithner failed to pay some of his federal taxes in 2001.
Under normal circumstances, failing to pay your taxes is a surefire way to torpedo your nomination to a Cabinet position.
But the race to halt the economic slide before the midterm elections in 2010 is so tight that President Barack Obama's choice for treasury secretary, New York Federal Reserve Bank chief Timothy Geithner, is got a pass on his tax troubles from the president and most senators, Democrats and Republicans.
Obama believes Geithner has made amends — he has paid the taxes and penalities — and possesses the talent the U.S. needs, his spokesman said.
"Secretary-designate Geithner ... admitted that he'd made honest mistakes that could and should have been avoided," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
The Senate voted 60-34 to confirm Geithner.
Geithner, 47, served as undersecretary of the treasury for international affairs during the Clinton administration. As president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, he's been a key player in the government's response to collapsing financial institutions and the housing and credit markets since last summer.
Many Republicans were willing to overlook Geithner's failure to pay all his taxes on income received from the International Monetary Fund in 2001 and in three subsequent years.
"I'm prepared to back Obama on this issue," Sen. Arlen Specter, a Republican said Monday. "The economic situation is so tense right now and I don't want see us go back to square one and wait several weeks or longer for the process to bring in a new treasury secretary."
"People make mistakes and commit oversights," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican. "Even the most intelligent and gifted — two adjectives that certainly apply to Mr. Geithner — make errors in their financial dealings."
Even so, not everyone was convinced that the need for a speedy confirmation should trump concerns about the candidate. Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican did not buy Geithner's contention that he skipped paying some taxes because he was confused by the complexities of the tax code.
"They were described by the nominee himself as 'careless mistakes,'" Collins said in prepared remarks. "It has become clear to me that this is not merely a matter of complexity leading to mistakes, but of inexcusable negligence."
Sen. Mike Enzi, a Republican, agreed and noted that his is one of the few voices of dissent.
"Nominees for positions that do not oversee tax reporting and collection have been forced to withdraw their nomination for more minor offenses. They have been ridden out of town on a verbal rail," Enzi told the Senate. "The fact that we're in a global economic crisis is not a reason to overlook these errors."
"The Senate," he scolded, "is not supposed to be a group of 'yes' men."
The Senate Finance Committee approved Geithner's confirmation in an 18-5 vote last week. However ambivalent, some Senate Republicans were supporting him. Specter, for example, said he's not happy that Geithner did not pay up all of the $42,702 in back taxes and interest until after he was nominated to become treasury secretary.
As such, Geithner is being tasked with directing the U.S. economic recovery from the worst financial crisis in three generations, a task that could define the first two years of Obama's term. Specific duties include directing how $350 billion of already existing Wall Street bailout money is to be spent, then making the case to Congress and the public if more is needed.
In addition, Congress is working on an $825 billion economic recovery package that dedicates about two-thirds to new government spending and the rest to tax cuts. Geithner will be playing a big role in disbursing that money, too.
"Borger: Obama, GOP on their first date"
By Gloria Borger
CNN Senior Political Analyst
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- If there was one message that resonated loud and clear from the Obama campaign, it was this: Let's get past all of the partisanship and work together to get something done.
President Barack Obama has pledged to work with Republicans on his economic stimulus package.
Turns out, President Barack Obama actually meant it. He's been meeting with congressional Republicans (and will trek to the Hill again Tuesday).
He's been listening to their ideas, incorporating some tax-cut ideas. And, yes, he's also been turning some down. After all, as he told Republicans last week, he was the one who won the election.
So what we're watching now as the stimulus package takes shape is the legislative equivalent of the first date: Republicans meeting with the new president, sizing him up. Obama deciding whether the GOP is serious about working with him. Watch Obama discuss his stimulus plan »
"He [Obama] came to a conclusion early on in his political career that partisan polarization is a large part of the problem," says a senior Obama adviser. "Both in reality and in the minds of the American people."
Ah, but it's never that simple.
First, there's the House. It's the most polarized place in Washington, and the GOP leader, Rep. John Boehner, is making that very clear.
Too much spending, and too few tax cuts, he says. And, as icing on the cake, he cherry-picks some proposals bound to set off alarms with GOP constituencies -- all standard operating procedure from an opposition party. Watch a House Republican discuss his opposition to the plan »
But here's the problem: The GOP has to be careful about not being seen as the folks who simply want to obstruct the Obama agenda. Not just because the new president is popular, and not just because 58 percent of the public wants an economic stimulus plan. A majority of independent voters want one, too.
Don't Miss
Obama looks to cash in on some political capital
Borger: Do Congressional Democrats need an intervention?
Borger: An Obama team oops on CIA pick?
It's easy to say "no" for Republicans. That's because while they can vote against the plan, they understand they're not likely to kill the stimulus package. So they figure they can get the best of all political worlds: making their rhetorical points against something, knowing full well it will pass.
But in voting against something that might actually work, Republicans might want to remember this: They need the economy to improve just as much as the Democrats do. They should want to be a part of the fix.
In a way, by courting bipartisanship, Obama is actually giving the GOP leverage.
That's where the Senate comes in. The House bill isn't likely to be anything the GOP will support, but in the Senate there's more chance for GOP input. Why not try to work with the president, just to see how it feels? In the end, Obama could end up in fights with his own House Democrats to bring along some Republicans.
Why not test him to see if he has the mettle to do that?
And, by the way, if you're a Republican in a state in which the economy is truly hurting, it's risky to oppose a stimulus package.
The president's approval rating is near 80 percent. People want to change the way Washington does business. If Republicans become the nay-sayers this early, they give Obama a big stick to beat them with -- and tar them as business-as-usual, partisan politicos.
Of course, substance matters. And voting for the largest spending package in American history will make fiscal conservatives, both Democratic and Republican, nervous.
But what might make them more nervous is the prospect that the economy doesn't improve. Then it's their jobs that will be on the line
President Obama's pick survives failure to pay some taxes in 2001"
WASHINGTON - The Senate voted to confirm Timothy Geithner, President Barack Obama's pick for treasury secretary, Monday evening, after delaying a vote because Geithner failed to pay some of his federal taxes in 2001.
Under normal circumstances, failing to pay your taxes is a surefire way to torpedo your nomination to a Cabinet position.
But the race to halt the economic slide before the midterm elections in 2010 is so tight that President Barack Obama's choice for treasury secretary, New York Federal Reserve Bank chief Timothy Geithner, is got a pass on his tax troubles from the president and most senators, Democrats and Republicans.
Obama believes Geithner has made amends — he has paid the taxes and penalities — and possesses the talent the U.S. needs, his spokesman said.
"Secretary-designate Geithner ... admitted that he'd made honest mistakes that could and should have been avoided," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
The Senate voted 60-34 to confirm Geithner.
Geithner, 47, served as undersecretary of the treasury for international affairs during the Clinton administration. As president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, he's been a key player in the government's response to collapsing financial institutions and the housing and credit markets since last summer.
Many Republicans were willing to overlook Geithner's failure to pay all his taxes on income received from the International Monetary Fund in 2001 and in three subsequent years.
"I'm prepared to back Obama on this issue," Sen. Arlen Specter, a Republican said Monday. "The economic situation is so tense right now and I don't want see us go back to square one and wait several weeks or longer for the process to bring in a new treasury secretary."
"People make mistakes and commit oversights," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican. "Even the most intelligent and gifted — two adjectives that certainly apply to Mr. Geithner — make errors in their financial dealings."
Even so, not everyone was convinced that the need for a speedy confirmation should trump concerns about the candidate. Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican did not buy Geithner's contention that he skipped paying some taxes because he was confused by the complexities of the tax code.
"They were described by the nominee himself as 'careless mistakes,'" Collins said in prepared remarks. "It has become clear to me that this is not merely a matter of complexity leading to mistakes, but of inexcusable negligence."
Sen. Mike Enzi, a Republican, agreed and noted that his is one of the few voices of dissent.
"Nominees for positions that do not oversee tax reporting and collection have been forced to withdraw their nomination for more minor offenses. They have been ridden out of town on a verbal rail," Enzi told the Senate. "The fact that we're in a global economic crisis is not a reason to overlook these errors."
"The Senate," he scolded, "is not supposed to be a group of 'yes' men."
The Senate Finance Committee approved Geithner's confirmation in an 18-5 vote last week. However ambivalent, some Senate Republicans were supporting him. Specter, for example, said he's not happy that Geithner did not pay up all of the $42,702 in back taxes and interest until after he was nominated to become treasury secretary.
As such, Geithner is being tasked with directing the U.S. economic recovery from the worst financial crisis in three generations, a task that could define the first two years of Obama's term. Specific duties include directing how $350 billion of already existing Wall Street bailout money is to be spent, then making the case to Congress and the public if more is needed.
In addition, Congress is working on an $825 billion economic recovery package that dedicates about two-thirds to new government spending and the rest to tax cuts. Geithner will be playing a big role in disbursing that money, too.
"Borger: Obama, GOP on their first date"
By Gloria Borger
CNN Senior Political Analyst
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- If there was one message that resonated loud and clear from the Obama campaign, it was this: Let's get past all of the partisanship and work together to get something done.
President Barack Obama has pledged to work with Republicans on his economic stimulus package.
Turns out, President Barack Obama actually meant it. He's been meeting with congressional Republicans (and will trek to the Hill again Tuesday).
He's been listening to their ideas, incorporating some tax-cut ideas. And, yes, he's also been turning some down. After all, as he told Republicans last week, he was the one who won the election.
So what we're watching now as the stimulus package takes shape is the legislative equivalent of the first date: Republicans meeting with the new president, sizing him up. Obama deciding whether the GOP is serious about working with him. Watch Obama discuss his stimulus plan »
"He [Obama] came to a conclusion early on in his political career that partisan polarization is a large part of the problem," says a senior Obama adviser. "Both in reality and in the minds of the American people."
Ah, but it's never that simple.
First, there's the House. It's the most polarized place in Washington, and the GOP leader, Rep. John Boehner, is making that very clear.
Too much spending, and too few tax cuts, he says. And, as icing on the cake, he cherry-picks some proposals bound to set off alarms with GOP constituencies -- all standard operating procedure from an opposition party. Watch a House Republican discuss his opposition to the plan »
But here's the problem: The GOP has to be careful about not being seen as the folks who simply want to obstruct the Obama agenda. Not just because the new president is popular, and not just because 58 percent of the public wants an economic stimulus plan. A majority of independent voters want one, too.
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It's easy to say "no" for Republicans. That's because while they can vote against the plan, they understand they're not likely to kill the stimulus package. So they figure they can get the best of all political worlds: making their rhetorical points against something, knowing full well it will pass.
But in voting against something that might actually work, Republicans might want to remember this: They need the economy to improve just as much as the Democrats do. They should want to be a part of the fix.
In a way, by courting bipartisanship, Obama is actually giving the GOP leverage.
That's where the Senate comes in. The House bill isn't likely to be anything the GOP will support, but in the Senate there's more chance for GOP input. Why not try to work with the president, just to see how it feels? In the end, Obama could end up in fights with his own House Democrats to bring along some Republicans.
Why not test him to see if he has the mettle to do that?
And, by the way, if you're a Republican in a state in which the economy is truly hurting, it's risky to oppose a stimulus package.
The president's approval rating is near 80 percent. People want to change the way Washington does business. If Republicans become the nay-sayers this early, they give Obama a big stick to beat them with -- and tar them as business-as-usual, partisan politicos.
Of course, substance matters. And voting for the largest spending package in American history will make fiscal conservatives, both Democratic and Republican, nervous.
But what might make them more nervous is the prospect that the economy doesn't improve. Then it's their jobs that will be on the line
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Story Ideas
How American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will Impact Pullman:
On Thursday January 15 the House Democratic leadership proposed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This stimulus package includes $5 billion for rural development. The bill is expected to be in the House on January 28th and signed by the President in mid-February. The Rural Community Facilities will be receiving $200 million to support $1.2 billion in grants and loans. How will this impact the development on the Palouse? As the County Commission finalizes and tries to balance the budget, do they anticipate receiving federal funding? This story would deal with how this federal bailout will impact local projects and spending.
Public Safety Cutbacks
According to the Whitman County Commission 60-70 percent of their annual budget is allocated to public safety. As they attempt to stay afloat during difficult economic times they are looking for cost reductions in public safety. What will change and how will be cut back in public safety in Whitman County? The story would cover how they are going to reduce cost and the ideas being considered in order to make public safety efficient yet affordable.
How the Next Bailout will impact WSU:
Also under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act $49 billion will be allocated to states for local school districts and public colleges and universities. At a recent WSU Forum President Elson S. Floyd is struggling with the $31 million dollar budget cut he is anticipating. Would such a stimulus change WSUs’ current economic situation? This story would look at how the next bailout will impact WSU.
Finacial Aid and What the New Administration Means for You as a Student
How will the financial crisis WSU is facing affect student finances? Will financial aid be reduced? The cost of attending a public college has risen by 35 percent in the past five years. According to President Obama’s web-site, “The money spent on subsidies for guaranteed loans over the last few years would have been enough to provide every low-income college student an additional $4,000 in grant aid.” President Obama is expected and has pledged to use direct college loans and provide $3.5 billion for Pell Grants. What can you anticipate for next year in way of student aid? This would cover how financial aid will be impacted by the economic crisis and when more efficient loans will be introduced.
Sustainable Development at WSU
The Department of Energy (DOE) is providing $1 billion in grants for sustainable infrastructure and energy efficient technology projects for “institutional entities” including universities. Will WSU try to be a recipient of such grants and how will the university continue to create a more sustainable environment? Will construction be halted or will more Lead Certified buildings spring up on campus? This story would look at development plans for WSU. At the most recent Budget Forum President Floyd said he felt he needed to spend money in order to save money.
On Thursday January 15 the House Democratic leadership proposed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This stimulus package includes $5 billion for rural development. The bill is expected to be in the House on January 28th and signed by the President in mid-February. The Rural Community Facilities will be receiving $200 million to support $1.2 billion in grants and loans. How will this impact the development on the Palouse? As the County Commission finalizes and tries to balance the budget, do they anticipate receiving federal funding? This story would deal with how this federal bailout will impact local projects and spending.
Public Safety Cutbacks
According to the Whitman County Commission 60-70 percent of their annual budget is allocated to public safety. As they attempt to stay afloat during difficult economic times they are looking for cost reductions in public safety. What will change and how will be cut back in public safety in Whitman County? The story would cover how they are going to reduce cost and the ideas being considered in order to make public safety efficient yet affordable.
How the Next Bailout will impact WSU:
Also under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act $49 billion will be allocated to states for local school districts and public colleges and universities. At a recent WSU Forum President Elson S. Floyd is struggling with the $31 million dollar budget cut he is anticipating. Would such a stimulus change WSUs’ current economic situation? This story would look at how the next bailout will impact WSU.
Finacial Aid and What the New Administration Means for You as a Student
How will the financial crisis WSU is facing affect student finances? Will financial aid be reduced? The cost of attending a public college has risen by 35 percent in the past five years. According to President Obama’s web-site, “The money spent on subsidies for guaranteed loans over the last few years would have been enough to provide every low-income college student an additional $4,000 in grant aid.” President Obama is expected and has pledged to use direct college loans and provide $3.5 billion for Pell Grants. What can you anticipate for next year in way of student aid? This would cover how financial aid will be impacted by the economic crisis and when more efficient loans will be introduced.
Sustainable Development at WSU
The Department of Energy (DOE) is providing $1 billion in grants for sustainable infrastructure and energy efficient technology projects for “institutional entities” including universities. Will WSU try to be a recipient of such grants and how will the university continue to create a more sustainable environment? Will construction be halted or will more Lead Certified buildings spring up on campus? This story would look at development plans for WSU. At the most recent Budget Forum President Floyd said he felt he needed to spend money in order to save money.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Political Beat
I will be covering politics in Pullman, Whitman County, Washington State and at the national level, especially if it connects to Eastern Washington. I attended a Whitman County Commission meeting to gain knowledge about local issues. Currently the most pressing issue is budget cuts as Washington State faces a $5 billion deficit. Also, the cost of the criminal justice system and public safety in Whitman County is highly debated. Eastern Washington is putting forth legislation in regards to school equalization levees because schools on the West side of the state are receiving more funding due to higher population levels and tax dollars than those in Eastern Washington.
A new Representative of District 9 was elected and sworn in on Monday morning at the County Commission meeting. Don Cox is the new representative. His platform and experience is with higher education. It will be interesting to see how he works with the education system in Whitman County. The budget for 2009 for Whitman County is still being decided and union contracts are currently being settled. In regards to national news I would likely focus on how the economic crisis is impacting Whitman County. Some County Commissioners are also putting forth a bill to have the power to impose an increase in sales tax without a public vote.
In addition to county and city politics I would like to focus on the activities of the Young Democrats and Young Republicans of Washington State University. I will explore how the groups are staying engaged post election frenzy. Also I will look at how WSU students stay connected to both county and city politics and if there is active communication between the two groups. WSU students are undoubtedly impacted by the current economic crisis and it will be interesting to explore this issue. President Floyd is holding press conferences on the current budget cuts. I will not cover this as a one time event but rather focus on the ongoing changes in admissions, class offerings, and financial aid made available to students.
Whitman County recently elected a Democratic County Commissioner. This is monumental because the last Democratic County Commissioner was in office over sixteen years ago. Whitman County is traditionally conservative and I will observe if differences take place as local government works in conjunction with the new Obama Administration. To cover this beat I plan to attend City Council, County Commission, and Young Democrat/Young Republican meetings.
Three Proposed Story Ideas:
How the economic crisis and budget cuts are affecting students and WSU.
The equalization of education levee and how this legislation is handled at the state level.
The Obama Administrations’ bail out plan and how this will affect people at WSU and in the Pullman area.
A new Representative of District 9 was elected and sworn in on Monday morning at the County Commission meeting. Don Cox is the new representative. His platform and experience is with higher education. It will be interesting to see how he works with the education system in Whitman County. The budget for 2009 for Whitman County is still being decided and union contracts are currently being settled. In regards to national news I would likely focus on how the economic crisis is impacting Whitman County. Some County Commissioners are also putting forth a bill to have the power to impose an increase in sales tax without a public vote.
In addition to county and city politics I would like to focus on the activities of the Young Democrats and Young Republicans of Washington State University. I will explore how the groups are staying engaged post election frenzy. Also I will look at how WSU students stay connected to both county and city politics and if there is active communication between the two groups. WSU students are undoubtedly impacted by the current economic crisis and it will be interesting to explore this issue. President Floyd is holding press conferences on the current budget cuts. I will not cover this as a one time event but rather focus on the ongoing changes in admissions, class offerings, and financial aid made available to students.
Whitman County recently elected a Democratic County Commissioner. This is monumental because the last Democratic County Commissioner was in office over sixteen years ago. Whitman County is traditionally conservative and I will observe if differences take place as local government works in conjunction with the new Obama Administration. To cover this beat I plan to attend City Council, County Commission, and Young Democrat/Young Republican meetings.
Three Proposed Story Ideas:
How the economic crisis and budget cuts are affecting students and WSU.
The equalization of education levee and how this legislation is handled at the state level.
The Obama Administrations’ bail out plan and how this will affect people at WSU and in the Pullman area.
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