Blog Entries

Meeting with WSF's Moseley

art@artshotwell.com — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

WSF director David Moseley and other state ferries officials met with Anacortes residents Wednesday night at the Senior Center, but I had a conflict and couldn't get there. But, I thought I'd relay an account of a meeting earlier in the day.

Moseley Wednesday met separately with Capt. Richard Rodriguez, who is a rescue tug captain and who blogs on matters maritime at BitterEnd. Here is Capt. Rodriguez' report:

First, let me say that I was leery about the meeting, as [...]

Cantwell supports move to inject cash into banks

art@artshotwell.com — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Senator Maria Cantwell says she supports the latest proposal that the federal government inject capital directly into banks in return for ownership stakes in a move to restore confidence in the financial system and unfreeze credit markets.

Cantwell issued this statement:

While I remain supportive of leveraging the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government to try and avoid further financial meltdown, it's important that the Treasury Department's decision-making be based on a clear [...]

Rick Larsen votes to approve emergency bailout

art@artshotwell.com — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen voted to approve the emergency bailout. It passed the House 263-171. Larsen released the following statement in advance of the House vote:

When the Bush Administration asked for $700 billion with no oversight and no protections for taxpayers, Democrats in Congress said no way, no how, no blank check.
Congress has made significant improvements to the Administrations financial rescue package. We cut the $700 billion in half and conditioned any future p [...]

Washington Senators' bailout vote

art@artshotwell.com — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Washington's two U.S. Senators voted on opposite sides of the Senate vote on a financial rescue package. The bill passed on a 74-25 vote. Senator Patty Murray voted 'yes,' while Senator Maria Cantwell voted 'no.' I'm posting statements from both Murray and Cantwell.

Patty Murray explains her 'yes' vote

art@artshotwell.com — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Senator Patty Murray voted 'yes' on the financial rescue legislation. This is her statement:

Today communities across America, and far from Wall Street, are hurting. Families are struggling to fill up the tank, to afford health care and to send their kids to college. "

"And even if theyve played by the rules, paid their bills on time and have good credit, they are now at risk because of the Bush Administrations failure to rein in Wall Street greed.

People want to know if this [...]

Maria Cantwell explains her 'no' vote

art@artshotwell.com — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell:

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement after the vote on the economic rescue and tax extenders package. Cantwell voted no. The measure passed by a vote of 74 to 25:

The people of Washington state sent me here to fight for sound fiscal policy. I have led the fight for taxpayers in my state to get the fairness they deserve with the state sales tax deduction. I have led the fight for rural communities in my state and across t [...]

Maria's Monday Memo

art@artshotwell.com — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell:

Drilling Down on Volatile Oil Markets at Senate Oversight Hearing

During an Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee hearing last week, I called on Congress to pass legislation this month that improves the way markets function and ensures markets work on behalf of consumers,not against them.

During the hearing, I pointed to various independent reports that found that recent oil price swings in the oil markets are directly related to l [...]

NW Senators move to protect salmon ecosystems

art@artshotwell.com — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell:

U.S. Senators from Washington, Oregon and Alaska have introduced legislation to protect wild Pacific salmon ecosystems.

U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Gordon Smith (R-OR) have introduced the Pacific Stronghold Conservation Act of 2008 which will establish a federal program through an interagency, state, tribal and non-governmental-organization Partnership Board to support the protection and restoration of a netw [...]

Maria's Monday Memo

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell:

During the hearing, I pointed to various independent reports that found that recent oil price swings in the oil markets are directly relat [...]

Derelict tug may be removed this week

art@artshotwell.com — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The derelict tug Enchantress, which has been stuck on the bottom of Fidalgo Bay for several years, may be removed early this week.

Local artist and historian Bill Mitchell say [...]

State sales tax exemption may be extended

art@artshotwell.com — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Patty Murray report that a bipartisan tax agreement will give Washington state taxpayers needed sales tax relief for two more years. The measure that will extend the sales tax deduction through 2009 is expected to pass the Senate later this week. This is about tax fairness for Washington states working families and building a stronger economy, said Cantwell, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. I have been working hard with my Senate coll [...]

Maria's Monday Memo

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:27:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell:
Renewing The Charge to Stop Excessive Oil Speculation

Last Wednesday, I renewed efforts to crack down on irresponsible oil speculators, raising questions about speculators outsized influence over the energy futures market, the cost of energy, and perhaps even the federal agency responsible for regulating them.
This week is "energy week"in Congress, and there will be hearings to address volatile oil speculation.Senator Dorgan (D-ND), Cha [...]

Pacific NW Trail

art@artshotwell.com — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell:
Recognition of the Pacific Northwest Trail, which goes through Skagit County, as a National Scenic Trail has advanced in the US Senate.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has passed a bill sponsored by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell that will designate the 1,200 mile Pacific Northwest Scenic Trail as a National Scenic Trail.
National Scenic Trails provide recreation, conservation, and delight of significant scenic, histor [...]

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. [...]

The Herald: 100 degrees at Skagit Airport; not!

art@artshotwell.com — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Reporter Marta Murvosh reported in Monday's edition of the Skagit Valley Herald that Skagit Regional Airport recorded 100 degrees on Saturday.

In Skagit County, the automated weather station at the Skagit Regional Airport, west of Burlington, recorded temperatures hitting as high as 100 Saturday and the low 80s Sunday.

As it happens, Skagit Airport's automatic weather data is available online at wunderground.com. It shows a high on Saturday (and Sunday) [...]

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 [...]

Magnitude 3.6 quake near Port Townsend

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

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.

No damage was reported in the temblor, which was felt in many areas of East Jefferson County. KING 5 said viewers from Seattle, Snohomish and Everett called or wrote in to the station to say they felt the jolt.

The University of Washington Earth and Space Scienc [...]

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, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

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 Preside [...]

No Anacortes Starbucks on the closure list

art@artshotwell.com — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100
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.