Letters to the Editor

Tax Time
In his April 17 newsletter, Michael Baumgartner bragged about how the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) has put money into the pockets of District 5 residents. According to IRS data, the average increased refund was $351 per taxpayer. Do the math. The Republican tariffs have increased annual costs to each of us by $1,700 according to the Joint Economic Committee. Now determined illegal, we are responsible to pay for a refund program for those tariffs. Will those companies lower their prices after they receive their refund? Donald Trump’s war, which Michael Baumgartner supports, has increased gas prices at the pump by about $50 per driver, each month, by conservative estimates. Increased fuel costs to farmers and truck drivers have driven up costs of goods. The costs for Donald Trump’s war are in the billions of dollars per day. He has stated, due to the war costs, Medicare/Medicaid and other programs need to no longer be funded by the federal budget. Meanwhile, the BBB tax cuts are increasing our national debt up to $5 trillion over the next 10 years while cutting social services. Let’s make Michael Baumgartner a one-term representative.

Let's Fight Corruption
Political corruption is “the use of powers by government officials or their network contacts for illegitimate private gain.” Our president has torn down part of the White House, manipulated tariffs to enrich himself and his family, bombed Iran without congressional authorization, stacked the Supreme Court to give him immunity for potential crimes, and given ultra-wealthy people Cabinet positions, ambassadorships, pardons, and dropped investigations of their crimes, as long as they are loyal to him.
Imagine the uproar if any Democratic president had done these things. Trump won't live forever, and someday a president you don't like will be in power. At that point, nothing will stop that president from doing the same corrupt things without consequences. Is that really a precedent we want to set?
The freedoms we have in this country are there, in part, to protect us from government oppression no matter what group is in power. Now those are gone – unless we fight to protect them.

To the Editor:
As a graduate of Chewelah Public Schools, I write in support of the upcoming library levy. Voters will have received their ballots by mail, and the answer could not be more obvious: yes, to funding this levy, the first in 25 years. Yes to retaining talented and knowledgeable staff. Yes to providing greater access and resources to curious minds.
Many of my positive memories of growing up in Chewelah start at the public library. The summer is a crucial period, as many young people have unstructured months to fill with activities while school is out of session. The Chewelah Public Library and Loon Lake Library were vital connections to the community for my family, who lived several miles into the country. Any visit to town during the summer months involved hauling books back and forth. Before internet access was available, the computers we learned on were at our local library.
The Libraries of Stevens County form a critical link between community, technology, information, and education. I urge voters to approve this levy and extend these same resources I benefitted from to current and future generations. Vote yes, and drop your ballot off at your nearest ballot drop box today.

As a graduate of Jenkins High School and past user of the Chewelah Library, I’m asking you to vote “yes” on the levy happening April 28.
As a child, I checked out literally every book on sharks or dinosaurs, and read my way through every Hardy Boys mystery on the shelf. As a bookish high schooler, I took refuge in the library and read until sports practice was over and I could get a ride home.
This is not a unique story – it’s a very average story of a publicly funded public good where people can access knowledge and have skilled professionals help them print court documents or passport applications, discover a new book or e-book, or get online with high speed internet for Zoom classes. The Libraries of Stevens County do this every day and have never had a levy increase since formation in 1998. Inflation, gas prices, labor costs, and more have gone up in 28 years, and as frugal as the library has been, increased costs mean that without this levy there will be reduced hours and staff, full day closures, and fewer new books, e-books, and other materials.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Vote “yes” on April 28 to help families and kids learn to love reading and learning. Vote “yes” to bring back weekend hours at the library for the next decade. Your ballot is already in your mail box, so return today to avoid any delays with USPS.

Follow history – then vote
I’m retired; I receive Social Security. Franklin D Roosevelt, a Democrat, created this insurance program and the Civilian Conservation Corps because 25% were out of work; people lived on the streets. The DuPonts, Rockefellers, and J.P. Morgans were frustrated by FDR’s programs. These top 1% of wealthy families owned more than the bottom 40% combined.
John F Kennedy, a Democrat, created the “New Frontier” program, raising the minimum wage; Lyndon B Johnson, a Democrat, brought us Medicare and Medicaid; Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, established the Department of Education.
Bill Clinton, a Democrat, created 23 million jobs; Barack Obama, a Democrat, brought the Affordable Care Act; Joe Biden, a Democrat, created the Inflation Reduction Act to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
The Republican Administration and Congress, which includes eastern Washington’s Michael Baumgartner, are doing their best to destroy programs for average Americans. Baumgartner rubber stamps everything Trump does to control our economy, hurt eastern Washington farmers, and close medical facilities. And, it doesn’t stop there. They’re working to stop you from voting reasonable people into office.
They’re succeeding. The wealthiest 1% now own more wealth than the bottom 93%. They evade billions in taxes with yacht and jet plane deductions. I don’t have to wonder who Baumgartner is beholden to; his voting record aligns with Trump’s efforts. Even Trump’s followers are aware of, and resent, increasing prices. Please, vote for Democrats before we lose our democracy.

Stevens County residents love the rural lifestyle of our home – room to hike, fish, hunt, boat, and explore. Unfortunately, our far flung homes and towns can be a long way from services. Do you know what bridges the gap when we need information, entertainment, and technical support? Our local library system covers residents from Northport to Suncrest and all the homes and businesses in between. Each local library is interconnected with the others, and you can check books or other materials out of a huge catalog. County libraries have a delivery system that will provide materials from anywhere in the district a day or two from the time you request them. Kids and families can enjoy story times and craft projects throughout our county. Not everyone has internet service, but the libraries have free connectivity and technical support.
I especially enjoy downloading books over the internet, accessing books 24 hours/day. This was especially important during Covid, when we were all so isolated. My husband and I were in New Zealand when that country was locked down, and I can tell you that it’s hard to keep yourself busy when you’re in a small hotel room. Our salvation lay in our ability to download books from our Stevens County Library.
Our library system provides endless opportunities for education, entertainment, enrichment, and support, whatever stage of life you and your family are in. Please support the levy which allows the libraries to continue their vital work.

On April 28, the Libraries of Stevens County is sponsoring a levy request aimed at maintaining programs and services throughout the County at current levels. And what do we get at these current levels?
Our local libraries provide a lot more than just the physical books, movies, or audio you can check out; which you can even borrow online.
Our local libraries offer free wi-fi, internet access and computer use. Space is provided for seed exchanges and gardening classes, job training and practice interviews, story times and read- alongs for local kids, craft times and projects for all ages, and more. The local library branch provides a safe place to go after school until parents get off work, interactive public art projects, and meeting spaces for private groups.
Need to borrow camping or exercise equipment, yard games, or kitchen appliances? How about passes to state parks and local museums? Not sure how to find information or resources you need? Your local librarian will help you out.
Also, please keep in mind that the amount of this levy is small. If you own a $300,000 property, you are looking at $132 annually, an increase of just $4.35 per month more than the current levy rate. And if you don't own property, well, you get all the library services for free. So join us in supporting this valuable community asset on April 28.

The United States is at a state of war with Iran. Donald Trump is trying to label this as something that is “not war,” therefore, not requiring Congressional authorization. U.S. service members have been killed. A U.S. submarine has sunk an Iranian warship in international waters. The administration has been in contact with defense contractors to increase production of arms. This goes beyond any of the ever-shifting rationale from the administration for this military action.
When asked about this issue, Congressman Michael Baumgartner offers only historical perspective about the evil that is Iran. He has once again knelt before the throne and allowed Donald Trump to engage the United States military without Congressional approval.
When commenting on the spike in gasoline prices caused by this war, Congressman Baumgartner’s suggestion was that the state of Washington should revise its tax structure. Why is it Washington state’s responsibility to pay for Washington D.C.’s multi-billion dollar blunder?
This administration has taken the stance that it is better to ask forgiveness by going to court, rather than permission though the Congress. Hold them responsible with your vote this November.

It is not “anti-law enforcement” to expect our government to follow the law. That expectation is the foundation of our democracy.
We all agree immigration should be orderly and lawful. But the claim that the United States has had “open borders” is simply not true. Federal immigration law has remained in place under every administration, and border enforcement has continued. Millions were expelled or removed under Biden’s enforcement. The real issue is that our system is complex, backlogged, and long overdue for reform by Congress – including more immigration judges and clear, workable legal pathways.
Deeply concerning are documented cases in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained or targeted United States citizens and people who are here legally. When any agency violates due process, ignores court orders, or exceeds its authority, it is not “just doing its job.” It is breaking the law and it undermines trust in legitimate enforcement. Holding government agencies accountable to the Constitution is not radical; it is a basic civic responsibility.
Theodore Roosevelt wrote, “No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man’s permission when we require him to obey it.” That principle applies to everyone – including government agencies.
Americans can support lawful immigration and insist on lawful enforcement at the same time. Those principles are not in conflict. Respect for the rule of law must apply equally to all.
We are strongest when we defend both our borders and our Constitution.

Imagine it is June, 2022, and the Supreme Court has just issued their “Dobbs Decision” overturning 50 years of precedent and banning abortion nationwide. Joe Biden goes on TV and says of the Justices they are “fools and lap dogs,” “unpatriotic and disloyal,” “a disgrace to our nation,” “an embarrassment to their families,” and “swayed by foreign interests.” Right, you cannot imagine that. Had that happened, Fox News would have called for his immediate impeachment by that afternoon.
Those quotes actually belong to Donald Trump from Feb 20, outraged that the Supreme Court would sustain rulings by multiple lower courts finding the Trump tariffs illegal. Fox News reports with tepid commentary then moves along. Baumgartner is silent. As a member of Congress, it would be Baumgartner’s job to design legislation regarding tariffs as the Constitution says and the Court has now reiterated. But is he smart enough to know tariffs are a tax on the American consumer? Fair question.
Either way, Trump immediately said he would defy the Court and then raised tariffs across the board. This abuse of power and disregard for court orders is an impeachable offense, but I have no expectations of Baumgartner and Congress.

If I was a Trump supporter, I would be asked to believe that gas is $2 a gallon, groceries cost less today than when Trump took over, inflation is way down, and Trump will lay out his healthcare plan “in about two weeks.” That, of course, is not the lived reality for most Americans.
He wanted you to believe that the ICE agent who killed Renee Good suffered such severe injuries that he ended up in the hospital. Your eyes undoubtedly told you otherwise.
But the biggest fraud Trump has pulled on his voters is the myth that he cares about them. Instead of trying to make their lives better as he promised, he is obsessed with naming things after himself, including the Kennedy Center, The Institute of Peace, and most recently his threats to withhold money for a tunnel unless Dulles Airport in D.C. and Penn Station in NYC are renamed for him. Then there is the Trump class of naval vessels, the Trump savings card given to newborns, and Trump Rx, the discount prescription plan promised early in his term but only now being gingerly introduced. While you pay a higher cost of living, he begs for a Nobel Peace Prize. He sues the very government he runs, potentially hoovering up billions of taxpayer dollars.
Did you really vote for this? Are you suffering buyer’s remorse yet? And of course, Epstein.

Abuse of Power
We Washington residents should be paying attention to what's happening in Minnesota. There are reports of ICE detaining people even after they present their passports. U.S. citizens, just going about their lives are being taken. I don't want that to happen to me, my family, or my neighbors. I don't want it to happen to anyone – but we could be next on the list.
The federal government is corrupt and they're taking it out on the people who haven't even done anything “wrong.” Where are the folks standing up to tyrannical government? Speak up, tell Trump that this is an unacceptable and illegal abuse of power.
Think of these actions as a potential precedent. Nobody lives forever, and someday the folks in charge will be people you don't agree with. A federal gestapo that acts outside the law could be turned on anyone. I don't want to live like that. Do you?