Newhouse needs to meet with voters before cuts gut programs Tri-Citians rely on | Opinion
Newhouse: Meet with us in person
To Rep. Dan Newhouse: We would like to meet with you in person.
There are many issues we’d like to discuss with you; we want to explain our concerns and understand your position. Foremost is the just-passed budget resolution. In your press release, you say you look forward to working with colleagues in both chambers to identify savings and efficiencies in federal spending. Do you consider the Musk/DOGE approach of slash and burn, mistakenly firing then rehiring, to be an effective way of identifying savings and efficiencies?
In your Feb. 22 newsletter, you wrote that the federal employee terminations and furloughs directly impact families in Central Washington, and you’ve heard from residents of the Fourth Congressional District about concerns they have with these actions. Good. You’ve heard from us. You acknowledged that a strong, well-trained federal workforce is essential, and that you’ve communicated to the Trump administration that “there should be a more nuanced approach to terminations and furloughs.”
Please explain what you mean by “a more nuanced approach to terminations and furloughs.” We want to hear you explain this nuanced approach.
Please set up a town hall meeting for your constituents immediately.
Lynne Harrison, Dale Width, Pamela Gaudet, Barbara Fowler, Yvonne Rodriquez, Pasco
Zelensky was due Trump’s respect
Dear President Zelensky:
I write to you with profound respect, and with deep regret over the events that transpired during your recent visit to the White House. As a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force, please believe me when I tell you that President Trump’s obnoxious statements were not reflective of the values that so many Americans hold dear.
The boorish behavior of President Trump and Vice President Vance was an embarrassment. You deserve far better.
The brave men and women of Ukraine deserve better. America must never waver in its commitment to Ukraine and its NATO allies. To do so would not only be a betrayal of our most fundamental principles but also a grave strategic error. Abandoning Ukraine would embolden aggressors, weaken global security and threaten the very foundations of democracy.
The American people’s commitment to Ukraine’s cause remains resolute. I stand with you, as do countless others who recognize that the fight for Ukraine is, at its core, a fight for the free world. I pledge my personal support for you and your people as you continue this monumental struggle. Your victory will be historic.
Slava Ukraini!
Richard V. Badalamente, Lt Col, USAF (Retired), Kennewick
Newhouse likes cuts to Medicaid
Regarding (Rep. Dan) Newhouse backing the GOP plan for Medicaid: How disingenuous coming from a politician who has access to and is the recipient of the best medical coverage in this country.
He should at the very least stand up for the many constituents in the district who elected him who, in spite of hard work, multiple jobs and long hours, often can not make enough to provide more than basic needs, much less medical coverage. Shame on him.
Mary Carlisle, Kennewick
Let’s end waste; let’s consolidate
To local officials who support Elon Musk: I suggest instead of simply admiring Musk that you take real action. By forming the Tri-Cities Regional Office of Government Efficiency and Nonsense (TROGEAN aka Trojan), you can perform your own efficiency slashing.
Trogean committee members would be known as “Musketeers” with their motto the immortal, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”
It must be true that our local governments are rife with inefficiencies, not just the feds. Slashing local bureaucracies would offer more support of Musk than fawning admiration. Cut local government employees by at least 25%, maybe more!
Cut local law enforcement, ambulances and firefighters by at least 10%! There are no fires here! We have too many policemen. Eliminate local transit, since walking is healthier.
We have three bridges across the Columbia. What a waste! Shut one of them down immediately. But let’s cut to the chase: We need Trogean to address consolidation. This is where the big efficiency savings are.
Long live Kennascoland!
Please either be quiet about Musk or address consolidation if you are serious about efficiency. Unless you just like to watch others lose their jobs and celebrate that it is not you.
Chuck Henager, Kennewick
Raise cane, not pay in Olympia
Our new Democratic governor who can’t balance a checkbook any better than the previous Democratic governor could today recommended to his Democrat-controlled Legislature that all state employees need to take off one day per month for two years without pay to help in balancing his checkbook.
All the while he will receive a $30,000 plus pay increase per year from $200,000-plus to $230,000-plus.
A $29,000-plus pay increase for his attorney general, also a Democrat, and of course don’t forget the Democrat-controlled (state) House and Senate will also get a raise. Nice to be king!.
When will we become smart enough to take control away from the I-5 Corridor Democrats and take control of this state like the Republicans took control of Washington, D.C., and our great nation?
We need our own state Trump and DOGE. If they eliminated DEI bull in all of state agencies and associated costs, the deficit would be 70% eliminated.
Donald J. Taylor, Kennewick
Join District 4 chiefs for coffee
At Benton County Fire District 4, we are proud to serve nearly 25,000 residents, providing the highest level of emergency response and fire protection.
Our commitment to the community goes beyond answering calls — we also want to stay connected with those we serve. I’m excited to introduce “Coffee with the Chiefs,” an opportunity for residents to meet with me and our new Deputy Chief, Dan Drayton, in an informal setting.
We invite you to join us for a cup of coffee, share your thoughts, and ask questions about what’s ahead for Fire District 4.
Thanks to the ongoing support of our community and careful financial planning, we’re making critical service improvements this year — upgrading facilities, enhancing equipment, and hiring additional firefighters — all without a tax increase. These investments will help us continue delivering the reliable emergency response you depend on.
Our first “Coffee with the Chiefs” will take place on March 11, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Indulgences Espresso & Delights, 5449 W. Van Giesen St., West Richland. We hope to see you there!
Paul Carlyle, Fire Chief, Benton County Fire Protection District No. 4
Federal money benefits all of us
The Tri-Cities area greatly benefits from a long history of taxpayer-funded government programs starting with the building of the Grand Coulee Dam and continuing now with the Hanford site and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Government-funded dams provide water that created our agricultural and wine industry and gave us cheap electricity and cheap water.
Hanford contractors and PNNL get around $4.7 billion in government funding every year. They employ 19,000 people with high-paying jobs as well as two to three times that number in indirect jobs. PNNL and its employees alone contributed $31.9 million dollars in taxes to our local and state economy in 2022.
What area our size do you know of that has cheap electricity rates, 23 miles of public riverfront trails, at least 60,000 jobs directly or indirectly coming from government funding, and thousands of agricultural and food processing jobs?
I grew up in a town that did not get billions of dollars in government funding and they don’t have all of these jobs, a brand new town hall, a really nice library, a John Dam Plaza with stage and a fancy Xmas lighting show like we have in Richland.
All of these things come from the tax base created by a large amount of government funding. They would be considered luxuries in many communities.
I think many people in our area claim they don’t like government funding; however, they are here because of the funding and/or enjoy and take for granted all of the benefits we get from government funding.
Barbara Tarasevich, Richland
Ask accountability in DOGE process
On Feb. 19, Congressman Dan Newhouse sent out a constituent newsletter, “Protecting America’s Role in the Fight Against Hunger.”
In it, he describes the United States as a leader in delivering aid in the fight against global hunger under the Food for Peace program within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In response to the decision by Mr. Trump to freeze all funds for USAID, Rep. Newhouse has proposed moving the Food for Peace program to the Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Congressman Newhouse says that “efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce unnecessary spending are important” and that “there is plenty of unnecessary, and often times ridiculous, spending within USAID.” Further, he says, “I am supportive of efforts to be better stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
Both USAID and USDA have been overseen by their own Inspectors General, by the Government Accountability Office and numerous congressional committees in both the House and the Senate.
Why is it exactly that the congressman feels oversight and accountability provided by these bodies was inadequate? And exactly how is the process being used by DOGE expected to improve on oversight and accountability for these agencies?
Barbara Seiders, West Richland
Support Ukraine, its independence
Three years ago, Russia launched an unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The people of Ukraine are fighting bravely for their freedom, and they deserve our support.
President Trump has stained our national reputation by embracing Russian propaganda concerning Ukraine. On March 24, he compounded the disgrace by sponsoring a United Nations resolution about the war that failed to even mention Russian aggression, while opposing a resolution condemning the aggression. In taking these actions, he caused the United States to join forces with countries like North Korea, Belarus, Syria, Nicaragua and, of course, Russia itself.
Rep. Dan Newhouse has been a strong supporter of liberty and of Ukraine, but he must speak out now against what appears to be no more than a plan of appeasement, perhaps with a deal for mineral rights or oil concessions on the side.
In 2024, Americans voted to reduce inflation and limit immigration. They did not vote for surrender and alignment with tyranny.
Norman Werth, Colville
Carter’s decency deserved honors
In January, the U.S. flag was lowered to half staff in honor of ex-President Jimmy Carter. When he lost the election for a second term, he did not whine, blame fraud nor encourage a mob to destroy heretofore respected property or commit violence on those whose job was to protect it and the people inside.
The mob wanted even more violence had they not been stopped. Jimmy Carter started a charity, Habitat for Humanity to help people own their own homes and taught Sunday School.
I think the flag should have remained at half staff for February to grieve the death of decency when the American people elected Donald Trump president of the United States.
Deena Smith, Richland
Stand up and call out all of the lies
Lies, lies and more lies!
When are our representatives, Democrats and Republicans alike, going to stand up and call out the lies?
DOGE: what a joke, $65 billion saved? More like a little over $2 billion. Why not cut the $8 billion given to DOGE? Talk about inefficiencies.
$300 billion to Ukraine? More like half of that. U.S. spending twice Europe’s contribution? Europe is funding over 60%.
Cutting funding approved by Congress? Not only illegal but harmful to farmers, our parks, your health, international humanitarian aid and so much more.
As someone once said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.”
Richard Stachowiak, Kennewick
Remember, we fought for freedom
I find it reprehensible that our government has forgotten the lessons of both World War I and II. My mother was an Army nurse in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. My father was in the Army Air Corp in the Pacific. Both fought to save the freedom of those countries overrun by oppressive regimes that were bent on creating empires.
Fast forward to today, and our government is playing the role of a bully to a country that was invaded. Ukraine did not ask for this war, Russia invaded it, and in the process has committed countless war crimes.
If the America that we love wants to be “Great Again” we cannot side with dictators who invade other countries and murder their own opponents to stay in power.
The lesson from the World Wars is clear: We must stand with our allies and fight for democracy and freedom, not only for ourselves, but for all countries.
Douglas Macomber, Kennewick
Winston Churchill also wore fatigues
To those criticizing President Zelensky, look back at how many times he has humbly and publicly thanked the U.S. for our support, then realize it is every lover of freedom and democracy who owes a thank you to Zelensky and Ukraine for their three-year, bloody fight to keep Europe out of the hands of Putin.
Again, look back at the fatigues Winston Churchill wore to the White House during World War II in respect for his people at home fighting a war, and like Ukraine, living in a war zone. The U.S. president showed weakness, lack of self control and fear of Putin as he threw a screaming tantrum in a diplomatic meeting with a war hero.
Can Zelensky’s critics conceive of living three years in a war zone, and losing over 12,000 of your family, friends and neighbors?
The U.S. is aligning with the autocrats, and imperialist Putin, while removing offensive cyber operations that are our guard rails. We’re watching as the president of the United States abandons our security, and our allies while simultaneously ignoring the Constitution and separation of powers.
Rep. (Dan) Newhouse, please find some courage, and act to save our democracy from the traitor in the White House.
Kathryn Schroeder, Kennewick