.png)
For all those still dealing with their TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome), maybe start holding up your protest signs targeting the Democrat majority legislature and Democrat governor of Washington state who have passed the largest tax increase the state has ever seen.
The Dems hold a super majority meaning the Republicans had no way to block the Democrat overreach. A $14.15 billion unnecessary tax increase. The Republicans had proposed a balanced budget based on a previous one, SB5810. But instead of spending cuts the Dems prefer their old reliable formula of raising taxes on the people, not for what is needed, but for what the Dems’ wish list required. After 12 years of Jay Inslee the people thought state government would improve. Not if the Dems are permitted to have a stranglehold on the state laws and its treasury. Trump campaigned on closing our borders to illegal entry, curtailing fentanyl traffic, cutting waste and fraud in the federal government, restoring trade balances with other countries, restoring respect of our allies and cutting taxes, to name a few. He was elected to do that against a hostile Democrat party with 19% national approval.
K.C. Hunt Newport
Trump ‘neck-high’ in Epstein mess
I find myself amazed. Never in the history of the United States have we elected anyone as ignorant as Donald J. Trump. He’s a criminal, who brags about all the horrible things that he does. Openly talking about bribery to get people to vote the way he wanted such as Rand Paul. Said he made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Then we talk about the Epstein mess. Trump is in that neckhigh or higher. I’m talking about Obama should be arrested for being a traitor when in reality we know it’s Trump who should be arrested for being a traitor to our country.
His fan base is getting lower and lower all the time, as are his approval ratings.
Time to wake up MAGA, realize you elected the devil himself.
Jeannie Hutchins Newport
Baumgartner works for Trump, not constituents
I just received Mr. Baumgartner’s flyer in the mail. As usual, he professes to be working for the people of Eastern Washington. I look at the efforts he is touting and only see him working for Trump.
There is nothing in his flyer that says he is working for rural education, for rural hospitals and health care, for rural seniors and service members. There is no mention of farmers who will not be able to market their crops without immigrant labor nor nursing homes that will close because Medicaid is no longer supporting them.
Rather he “works” for the president’s private military, aka ICE. He works to keep hard-working people out of our country so we can keep it majority white. He works to imprison anyone that ICE picks up and to lock them away in cages, tents or other countries regardless of their status as law-abiding individuals. The 5th District Congressman is in the business of instilling fear among his constituents and anger at everyone who doesn’t wear a red hat.
I intend to work hard for a candidate in 2026 who will do more than follow the mean-spirited ravings of a very old man. Please join me.
Martha Nichols Newport
The truth of past federal corruption
Senator Risch’s legislation targets excessive programs that do not benefit the American people.
Some examples: $135 million in contributions to the World Health Organization $8 million for the United Nations Human Rights Council $1.2 million for radical gender ideology programs in Uganda and the Western Balkans $1 million to strengthen the “resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer global movements” $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda $33,000 for “Being LGBTI in the Caribbean” U.S. tax dollars should not support radical programs and organizations that undermine American values.
U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, has introduced the Say No to Indoctrination Act to codify President Trump’s executive order preventing taxpayer dollars from funding radical gender ideology in K-12 schools.
“Schools should prepare our children for the future, not promote radical gender ideology,” said Risch. “This Act makes President Trump’s common-sense policy permanent.”
“Children should not be radicalized, indoctrinated or taught gender ideology in public elementary or secondary schools funded by federal tax dollars,” U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, a cosponsor, said. “This legislation ... will ensure schools are providing foundational instruction in subjects like mathematics and reading rather than divisive concepts of gender ideology.”
Maureen Paterson Priest River
Baumgartner’s doublespeak
Our congressman has no pants as he lied them off in his Miner article last week (“Fact versus Fiction,” June 23). The big ugly bill he voted for is likely to cost us our public hospital. As a result of the bill, our hospital will see fewer paying patients and will need to write off millions of dollars in losses. Don’t play cards with the congressman as he will distract you and cheat.
The congressman didn’t tell you what the bill does to the Affordable Care Act. Policyholders will see a significant increase in premiums, and many will drop their insurance.
No matter what the cause, fewer patients paying will create losses that the hospital won’t be able to recover. Over 68% of county voters voted for the congressman and Trump and losing our hospital will dramatically impact their healthcare.
Many want the government to run like a business, and most businesses fail or close.
Yes, running our hospital out of business will strengthen Medicaid for those that really need it is the Republican talking point.
The bill has traps that offer funding that can’t be obtained with conditions that can’t be met.
Our injuries or illnesses can’t be treated with a congressman’s political doublespeak.
Pete Scobby Newport
Perception economy doing well is subjective
In response to the author of the July 23 letter, “Examine own bias before criticizing.” As mentioned in my letter, the figures match the monthly inflation rate from January 2021 to 2025. I assumed they’d find the “evidence” in their own resource. Here: https://inflationdata. com/Inflation/Inflation_ Rate/Historicalinflation. asp, and that’s no hyperbole.
The writer aimed to demonstrate economic progress by presenting their specific data. Inflation reduction doesn’t fully describe the economy’s performance. Several variables influence the economy, and inflation is only one of them. The perception of an economy doing well is subjective, as its impact varies across individuals. The Federal Reserve’s decision to raise interest rates caused the slowdown in inflation, as I’ve repeatedly said.
Consequently, how does doubting a writer’s questionable justifications for supporting their argument constitute a defining characteristic of a hypocrite or bias? I have yet to find a definition that explicitly states this. Regarding the term “sophomoric,” the writer should review their own letter.
It is evident that my message resonated with them. As the adage goes, “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” Circling back, they still failed to justify how their dataset relates to the original letter they complained about.
Renee Webster Newport
Baumgartner serves handlers, not constituents
Well, along with gutted healthcare and food assistance, increased taxes (tariffs), skyrocketing costs (tariffs and inflation caused by tariffs), shuttered rural hospitals, job loss, increased power costs and too many other poison pills to mention, Michael Baumgartner has now also happily voted to also take away public television and radio from CD5 and the rest of the country. Unlike with this vote, touting a desire to reduce federal spending, he was quite happy to vote for a veritable federal spending spree earlier this month by voting for gigantic tax breaks for the obscenely wealthy, our new surveillance state, and exploding the deficit by $5 trillion dollars.
And don’t buy the imagined “ideological balance” trope Baumgartner trotted out like every other Republican when attacking reporting that is truthful. NPR and PBS traffic in facts, unlike the garbage spewed by Fox; the truth is what cannot be funded.
One thing is correct — Congress does need to do a better job of stewarding our tax dollars. That’s something Michael seems to be unable to do, as are the rest of his Republican colleagues. Don’t listen to his deceitful words; watch his actions. Baumgartner’s actions are not for his constituents, but for his handlers.
Lisa Wolfe Kettle Falls
