Blog Entries tagged 'Government'

Washington is most bike-friendly

art@artshotwell.com — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

This item isn't really Anacortes news. But in light of current local efforts to get decent ways for bicyclists and pedestrians to cross Highway 20 on Fidalgo Island, I thought it is interesting that Washington is named most bicycle friendly state.

The League of American Bicyclists has named Washington as the nations No. 1 Bicycle Friendly State. This award, the first ever to be given to an entire state, was announced during the National Pro Bike Pro Walk Conference in Seattle on Sept. [...]

Murray & Larson move to expand marine conservation here

art@artshotwell.com — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Rick Larsen teamed up to introduce legislation that reauthorizes and expands the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act.
The Northwest Straits Initiative's goal is to restore and protect marine habitat in the Northwest Straits, from the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Northern Puget Sound to the Canadian border, in order to achieve ecosystem health and sustainable resource use. Most importantly, the legislation establishes and fun [...]

Maria's Monday memo

art@artshotwell.com — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

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 [...]

Maria's Monday memo

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

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 t [...]

Murray skeptical about re-bid

art@artshotwell.com — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Patty Murray's office:

In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) responded to the Defense Department’s plans to re-open the competition to supply the military’s next generation of aerial refuelin [...]

Murray calls for tanker re-bid

art@artshotwell.com — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced a Senate Resolution that recognizes the importance of aerial refueling tankers to our nation's military and calls on the Pentagon to re-bid the flawed tanker contract.
The Resolution comes after the Government Accountabili [...]

Maria's Monday Memo

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Senator Maria Cantwell’s Weekly Update

GAO's Decision Was a Scathing Indictment of the Air Force's Decision-Making Process

Boeing and the American people are the big winners in the decision the [...]

Cantwell continues push for lower gas prices

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell's office:

As consumers continue to struggle with record high gas prices at the pump heading into the July 4th holiday, today U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, and several of her Senate colleagues, introduced legislation ai [...]

Maria's Monday Memo

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell's office:

Republican Leadership Continues to Block Tax Relief for American Families and Businesses

Last week, I expressed disappointment with the Republican leadership’s decision to block the [...]

Larsen backs expansion of Amtrak, affordable, fuel-efficient transit

art@artshotwell.com — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Rep. Rick Larsen's office:

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen joined a majority in the House today to pass legislation to invest in Amtrak and help provide affordable and accessible transportation for Americans struggling with high fuel costs. By a veto-proof majority of 311 to 104, the House passed the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (H.R. 6003), a bipartisan bill to expand Amtrak and construct high-speed rail on high-density corridors across the nation. [...]

Murray tries to block Bush attempt to cut Salmon funds

art@artshotwell.com — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Patty Murray:

U.S. Senator Patty Murray today led a group of Senators from Washington, California, and Oregon in writing to Senate colleagues to urge them to block an attempt by the Bush Administration to eliminate $70 million in funding [...]

Cantwell wants names behind record oil prices

art@artshotwell.com — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell:

U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) today urged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to utilize their existing authority to bring transparency and safeguards to the oil and gas [...]

Murray on GOP obstruction of Consumer-First Energy Act

art@artshotwell.com — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

U.S. Senator Patty Murray rebuked Republican members of the Senate who blocked debate on the Consumer First-Energy Act of 2008.

The bill, which Senator Murray co-sponsored, includes a windfall profits tax on oil companies, a roll back of tax breaks f [...]

Maria's Monday Memo

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell:

Experts Tell Senate Committee How to Burst Energy Price Bubble

Last Tuesday, I chaired a Senate Commerce Committee hearing investigating whether market manipulation or excessive speculation is behind today’s sky [...]

Experts tell how to burst energy price bubble

art@artshotwell.com — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell:

Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell chaired a Senate Commerce Committee hearing investigating whether market manipulation is behind today’s skyrocketing oil and gas prices.

The hearing exami [...]

Cantwell on Climate Change

art@artshotwell.com — Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Senator Maria Cantwell says climate change could have a devastating impact on the oceans and on Puget Sound. Warming water temperatures and ocean acidification could disrupt the ocean food chain and displace populations due to rising sea levels.

From Senator Ma [...]

Cantwell on Memorial Day

art@artshotwell.com — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement:

“On this Memorial Day, we, as a nation, will pause and remember the
sacrifices made by the courageous men and women who have fought and
continue fighting to keep our nation safe.{readmor [...]

Murray on Farm Bill override

art@artshotwell.com — Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement after
the Senate voted to override the President's veto of the Farm Bill by a
vote of 82-13.

"This year's Farm Bill is a victory
for Washington state, our farmers, and our economy. It invests in jobs,
en [...]

Congress okays tax relief for troops

art@artshotwell.com — Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell:

Today,U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) praised her Senate colleagues for unanimously approvingthe Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 (The HEART Act),
legislation that was crafted by theSenate Finance Committee unde [...]

Maria's Monday memo

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Senator Maria Cantwell's weekly update:

Preserving Wenatchee Valley Medical Center

Last
week, I announced that a proposal to ban-physician owned hospitals has
been modified to protect and maintain Wenatchee Valley Medical Center.
The proposal, in [...]