A minor earthquake, measuring 3.6 magnitude, was registered near Port Townsend at 10:03 last night. The epicenter was 3 miles north-northeast of Port Townsend, about 25 miles from Anacortes.

From Senator Maria Cantwell:

Clean Boating Act Protects Washington State Boaters and Preserves Environment
 
Last week, I applauded passage of two pieces of legislation I co-sponsored: the Clean Boating Act of 2008 and a companion bill concerning commercial vessels. 

From Senator Maria Cantwell:

The Offshore Drilling Hoax

Last week I expressed my dismay at President Bush’s short sided decision to overturn a nearly 30 year old executive ban on offshore drilling put in place by President George H.W. Bush. 

A quick check of the "Full List of U.S. Stores Closures" document on the Starbucks website (http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=882) shows a Burlington store due to close but no Anacortes Starbucks location. I guess we need 3 Starbuck's stores in our town of 17,000. After all, this is the Pacific Northwest.

From Senator Maria Cantwell:

Introducing Legislation to Curb High Energy and Food Prices

Last week, following a series of hearings where financial experts said that one reason for the recent spikes in food and energy prices may be due to excessive speculation in the commodities market,  I joined Senators Joseph  Lieberman (I-CT)  and Susan Collins (R-ME) and  to introduce the Commodity Speculation Reform Act of 2008.