Blogs

This article by Bonner Cohen, Phd, refutes item for item the EPA's misleading talking points on the "waters of the United States" regulatory overreach. http://www.cfact.org/2014/09/29/wotus-the-facts-about-epas-wet-fiction/?utm_source=CFACT+Updates&utm_campaign=aacdbe1154-EPA_s_wet_fiction9_29_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a28eaedb56-aacdbe1154-270280261

CAPR Skagit Water Forum a Successful Step in Citizen Participation! Thank you Rep. Elizabeth Scott, R-Monroe, Sen. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, Rep. Dave Hayes, R-Camano Island, Jim Cook, a sitting Skagit Public Utility District commissioner, for your attention to the issues discussed at the CAPR Skagit Water Forum! Moderator Glen Morgan and the panel on the stage. http://www.goskagit.com/all_access/well-water-issues-spill-over-at-forum/article_c27fa87c-740a-5a64-9ad3-a1c679333235.html Well water issues spill over at forum By Daniel DeMay | Posted: Thursday, September 18, 2014 6:00 am MOUNT VERNON — Many of a thirsty group of residents, legislators and political candidates generally agreed Wednesday night that Skagit County doesn’t have a water shortage and the state and county shouldn’t be stopping rural landowners from building homes.

A good, clear minded read..."It’s time to remind those who rule that they rule with our consent, not at our expense, and their job is to protect, not infringe our inalienable rights to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." California vs. the Constitution--on Freedom, Faith, Guns and Property http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-California/2014/09/17/California-vs-the-Constitution-on-Freedom-Faith-Guns-and-Property

In this interesting yet somewhat confused article about Catholic Theology, Libertarianism, the Common Good, and the right to Property, one can reach the conclusion that Catholic belief and politics in so far as social policies are at best confused, and possibly have gone far down the road taken where political debate has taken precedence over the teachings of the Bible. http://ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/catholicism-and-libertarianism-clash-over-property-and-common-good The esoteric discussions are entertaining, or enlightening depending on one's point of view, yet it leads to the questions: Who am I tithing to?

In an everlasting cycle of continuous litigation, these Corporate Environmentalists, the plaintiffs — Cascadia Wildlands, Oregon Wild and the Center for Biological Diversity — allege the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used an ineffective method of surveying for spotted owls on the property, among other claims. This time the activity to be disrupted or stopped is the salvage and harvest of a burned forest. The threat to private property and near by healthy forest be damned, these groups need to litigate to stay alive. http://www.capitalpress.com/Timber/20140909/environmentalists-try-to-block-timber-salvage

CAPR has filed a Petition for adoption, amendment, or repeal of a State Administrative Rule to the WDFW Commission regarding the Proposed Hydraulic Rule Changes which received its most recent hearing on August 8, 2014. CAPR, in accordance with RCW 34.05.330, filed the petition to repeal the proposed Title 220-660 WAC, because it is no longer needed; imposes unreasonable costs; conflicts with another federal, state, or local law or rule; and duplicates another federal, state or local law or rule. The text of the attached documentation to the Petition for Adoption, Amendment, or Repeal of a State Administrative Rule can be read here: http://www.proprights.org/ISSUES/wildlife_index.php

Living with Wildlife is not as easy as some may wish. Living with wildlife in a large metropolis may mean a property owner will be confronted with raccoons, rats and mice, and several rambunctious squirrels. Living with wildlife outside of a city has a greater impact. That impact increases exponentially as people in the landscape become fewer. Just outside an urban area, and beyond, property owners will be interacting with a greater a variety of ordinary and endangered species and face more of a financial burden. Preventing interaction with species ranges from how to store refuse to how much of a property is restricted due to county, state, and federal policies. Some people see these additional burdens and restrictions as a simple price for others to pay in order to say they live in a state that they may share with such species.

The Cattlemen's Association is correct in saying the removal of sheep from privately held land is not a solution to wolves killing sheep. “Preventing the legitimate use of private land to meet political goals is always unacceptable,” A misunderstanding of the role of the legislature and the rule of law has led Corporate Environmentalists Center for Biological Diversity and seven other conservation groups to file an appeal to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to block efforts to kill wolves from the pack. In their blind desire for diversity, they fail to recognize that a hands off approach to environmentalism is exactly what does threaten that diversity. There must be thoughtful credit given to the benefits of grazing in preventing wildfire that harms all species. Hancock Timber must be aware of that benefit or would not have private grazing contracts on their lands.

Thanks to the Skagit Republicans for sharing this article from their September Newsletter. This monthly Newsletter can be seen here: http://skagitrepublicans.com/newsletter/skagit-county-republican-party-newsletter The Great Central Washington Chinook Salmon Massacre The following is from Mike Newman, Mt Vernon realtor and former SCRP Chairman. Mike is a local expert on water issues. His expertise extends to the other side of the Cascades as well. He owns land in Okanagan County and keeps informed of county and dike district affairs in that locale. One of the more inexplicable events that our state government was responsible for was the mass slaughter of endangered Chinook salmon, starting in the late 1980’s or 1990’s and continuing to this year when the program ended.