3 Richland School Board members should not be voted out, and other Herald letters | Opinion
To recall or not, that is the question
A sizable number of community members believe ‘The Three’ Richland School Board members should be recalled because they broke the law. In contrast, a sizable number of community members believe that ‘The Three ‘advocated for students to return to the classroom based on several years of knowledge that remote learning was taking a toll on students and further delay was unacceptable.
Were their actions criminal, with the intent to harm others or benefit themselves at the expense of the students? Or were their actions honorable, intended to benefit the students at the expense of their reputations? One could advocate for strict adherence to every law and regulation, but the reality is that many crimes go unpunished, some rightly so. Context matters.
From 30,000 ft, I see a community with many people passionate about doing what is best for our children. They dedicate their time and energy to that cause. Their reward is the knowledge that they did their best to do what is right despite the persecution. We are fortunate to have such dedicated people. In that context, I fully believe ‘The Three’ should not be recalled.
Michael Fayer, Richland
Newhouse right on debt ceiling bill
Thanks to Rep. Dan Newhouse for his vote for the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. It allowed the U.S. to pay its bills, increase the debt ceiling, and cap federal spending. He knew, as a businessman and representative, the importance of the bill. Rep. Newhouse has also voted for the Global Malnutrition Prevention & Treatment Act and READ Act, which funds early childhood learning.
Now I ask for his support for the American Family Act to restore the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to 2021 levels. This would be good fiscal responsibility and provide care for the most vulnerable.
After Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021, data from the Census Bureau and the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that investing a modest amount in children and families made a huge difference. Food insecurity and other material hardship for families dropped. Not only could parents pay their bills but, most importantly, children ate healthier.
The expanded CTC ended in 2021. The CTC was created by and has been expanded multiple times with bipartisan support. I ask Rep. Newhouse to be a policymaker who can make that happen again.
Barbara Puigh, Richland
Consumer should pick appliances
Consumer choice in the appliances used within homes and restaurants should remain.
In recent months the safety of gas stoves has been questioned, particularly after the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) moved to regulate gas stoves, claiming links between gas stoves and childhood asthma. These claims have been met by opposition and additional research indicates it is not the type of energy used to power one’s stove that affects air quality, but rather the type of food, the oil in which it is cooked and the type and quality of ventilation.
However, even though Consumer Reports supports ventilation as the key to healthy air quality in cooking, political action puts consumer choice at risk. To combat this, in March, Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., sponsored a bill to prohibit the use of federal funds to ban gas stoves.
CPSC works to save lives and keep families safe by reducing the unreasonable risk of injuries and deaths. There is evidence that gas stoves are safe and have been safely used for decades. Consumers who value the responsiveness and versatility of gas stoves and the 96% of professional chefs who prefer gas cooktops should advocate for choice in cooking appliances.
Marci Ballard, Richland