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The Fourteenth Amendment was established in 1868, the citizenship clause confirmed by the Supreme court in 1884, 1898, and 1980. This vital structure of America’s “melting pot” allows new people, with new skills and ideas, to establish a home and flourish here. That flourishing betters our nation, as readily shown by the number of inventions and innovations by immigrants (https://www.gsb.stanford. edu/insights/new-look-immigrants- outsize-contribution-innovation- us) and by their increase in economic activity (https:// govfacts.org/immigration/ the-economic-case-for-immigration- what-the-data-showsabout- americas-workforce/). This supporting pillar of our society for the past 158 years is under assault from the president and lapdogs like our own Rep Baumgartner. I am the descendant of immigrants - excepting Native American readers, you are also. This action against the Fourteenth is an insult to all of our families, and an injury to all those that dream of joining our national endeavor. Shame on Trump (son, grandson, and husband of immigrants) and Baumgartner (a thoroughly German name), and all the other “leaders” who hypocritically deny the rights and opportunities they received to those who come after.
Jessica Adams Colville
Clean coal?
Leave it to the Napper-in-chief to come up with the oxymoron “clean coal.” As Bugs Bunny used to say, “what a maroon.”
Steve Bennett Newport
‘Trump Prison’ has nice ring to it
Trump’s efforts to convert empty warehouses into prisons for immigrants (legal and illegal), received such pushback from residents of a town in West Virginia as well as Salt Lake City and Oklahoma City that sales to ICE of large empty warehouses were stopped by huge turnouts of residents. Elected leaders were forced to capitulate and stop the sales. He did succeed in getting it done in Phoenix, however. In that city the Trump Administration managed to keep it secret until the sale to ICE closed.
If racial or other prejudice of people is strong enough, our administration must think it is worth millions of taxpayers’ dollars for the satisfaction of stuffing people away into cages.
Rachel Maddow talked about some of this and when she called them “Trump Prison(s)” that caught my eye.
Since Trump wants so many things named after him, I would be totally be on board if he should put a sign up at each of the prisons; “Trump Prison”. It has a nice ring to it!
Roger Castle Newport
Captain of chaos
Politicians keep spending more and more of our tax dollars on state sanctioned violence, war abroad, policing, and incarceration. Our tax dollars would be better spent in meeting our community’s needs, instead of terrorizing people.
Our country has a history of marginalizing people of color. It doesn’t make it less heart breaking. Let’s not be complacent. We can help our neighbors and ourselves. We need to stand together. We are powerful in solidarity. We can learn from the civil rights movement. We may be angry but we must remain calm and stay organized. There is much you can do. Stay informed.
Here is a list of the seven Democrats who voted to continue to fund ICE: Henry Cuellar (Texas), Vincente Gonzalez (Texas), Tom Suozzi (New York), Laura Gillen (New York,) Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Washington), Jared Golden (Maine), and Don Davis (North Carolina). Let them know how you feel about this. You are not helpless!
Art of the Deal indeed. It’s more like Art of Deception. Trump is the Captain of Chaos.
Will we ever see the Epstein files?
Gloria Coppock Chewelah
Elected officials should be answering questions, not staff
Benjamin Franklin responded to the questioner in quotations “we have given you a constitutional Republic form of government, if you can keep it”. By definition a constitutional Republic is a representative form of government. Representatives are commissioners, board members, directors, and are generally elected based on their campaign promises to the voters. These policy makers (politicians) are taxed with directing the major source of employment in our county.
Locals elected office holders should first be representing the taxpayers and rate payers more than the staff that they are paying. We are funding positions such as strategist at the local public hospital, public information officers at the Public Utility District, and Human Resources Director and Public Records Office at the county level. The elected officials should be answering all of the questions these positions field.
Mike Hanson Newport
Wonderful all three school district levies passed
The latest meeting of the Newport School Board was held just hours before the results of the bond and levy votes were known. It was one of the most enjoyable meetings I have attended. February is “School Board Appreciation Month” and there were compliments to the board for their dedication and leadership from every person who spoke. The large signs made by students at all levels reflected the consistent message by all who spoke, “We are glad to be here.”
That wasn’t all that I saw and heard. Without exception, every presentation stressed the accomplishments of students as well as programs. Our students are winning state and national competitions as well as excelling here at home. This includes athletic successes, Career Education triumphs as well as programs that Newport develops and then shares with other rural schools and much, much more.
It is wonderful that all three POC school district levies passed and yet I am mystified that only 39% of eligible voters cared enough about our kids to cast their ballots. I’m told that it’s a respectable turnout. I find it less than ‘respectable’. Let’s do better next time kids are on the ballot.
Martha Nichols Newport
‘Save
Act’
Part of the ‘Save Act’ says you have to produce photo ID when you vote and proof of citizenship when you register to vote. It just passed the House and pushed to the Senate. Only one Democrat voted for it in the House. Why? 71% of Democrats want voter ID. The Democrats in Congress say it’s racist. Minorities have a difficult time getting photo IDs and many are inept at using the internet.
That prompted social media journalists to take to the streets in NYC to interview minorities, both black and brown. Every person that they videoed pulled out their photo IDs. When asked if they knew where the DMV was, every one of them knew. They were asked if they knew how to use the internet. Most had it on their phones and all said yes.
What are the Democrats in Congress worried about? If elections are ‘fair and safe’ what’s the problem? Shouldn’t we want citizens only voting in federal elections? The Democrats in Congress might be defending something. Time will tell.
Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick
Rosencrantz delivered huge wins
County Commissioner Robert Rosencrantz is this year’s Pend Oreille County MVP. In addition to bringing his exceptional integrity and talents into the selfless service of the residents of the county, Rosencrantz has recently delivered a series of huge wins. First, he orchestrated a legislative consensus—no mean feat in our ideologically divided state—to reverse recent state regulations prohibiting new septic systems within 200 feet of lakes and rivers. This regulation affected many property owners hoping to build their long-worked for dream homes on their properties that frequently do not reach the 200 feet cut-off along the river or the county’s many beautiful lakes. Rosencrantz built a coalition and engineered a revision back to previous 100 feet standard, restoring the dreams of many residents of the county.
Second, Rosencrantz orchestrated a nearly $5 million state housing grant to our neighbors in the Kaniksu Village in Metaline Falls—which isn’t even in his commissioner district! The grant, which was one of only a handful of grants fully funded by the state, will assure quality housing for dozens of families and provide a welcome injection into the north-county economy.
Two huge wins, one great commissioner.
Thanks, Robert!
Ben Richards Cusick
Gift of a handshake
The vast majority of our forefathers came to the USA as immigrants.
Some as recently as a great grandfather/mother, grandfather/mother or parent. Most were welcomed and prospered with their immigration to the United States. They became valuable assets to our country.
I look at what is being done today by the Trump administration in the “name” of deporting the criminals, rapists and murders who are illegally in this country. Statistics show that most people being swept up by ICE are not in this category.
Instead, we have harassment of legal citizens, the targeting of people with an accent or of color and the killing of two citizens in Minneapolis. The Trump administration has released homicidal cruelty with the deaths of Renee Good, Alex Pretti and near death of Ms. Martinez in Chicago.
Others have died while in custody of ICE.
Sadly Congressman Baumgarther continues to support ICE funding, its tactics and racist policies.
The art of deflection and spin through his newsletters and press releases will not cover up this fact. It is time to reach out to an immigrant with an offered handshake and not a fist of repression.
Robert W. Schutte Newport
When Trump goes away, my Trump letters will end
Ernie Hood’s (What have Democrats accomplished?) and Glen Pierce’s (‘Georgia’) letters last week about Democrats in Washington deserve a response. When they get cheaper gas in Idaho, they shouldn’t forget to buy their groceries and pay Idaho sales tax, or they can buy them in Washington and pay no sales tax on food. Idaho state income tax must look attractive to them as a reason to relocate.
If they know any Northern Idaho expectant mother, they should remind her that she can’t have her baby in North Idaho as doctors or nurses don’t want to risk arrest and trial over draconian anti-abortion laws. A North Idaho mother must come to our socialist public hospital supported by our Washington property taxes to have her baby.
Paying taxes on income and food with no maternity care are Idaho Republican political perks.
The day that Trump goes away will end my letters about him. Trump inserts or intrudes in every aspect of our lives by tweeting and commenting on everything like posting pictures of Obamas as apes. Obama has been out of office for ten years and the 2020 election was six years ago, yet Trump relives his past grievances like they happened yesterday. It just never ends.
Pete Scobby Newport
Use millionaire tax for school infrastructure
In the February 1 edition of The Miner, the author of the letter titled “Please, jump off the Trump train”, could they be referring to the fiveyear- old boy whose father fled when CIE attempted to take custody of him?
This incident left the boy unattended when he was returning from preschool. Causing ICE officers to stay with the boy while others pursued the father. Is this the same five-yearold boy that ICE officers tried to persuade the boy’s mother to take custody of, but she declined? Due to the absence of other family members for the five-year-old boy, the father requested custody, resulting in their placement together at the processing center by ICE.
That five-year-old boy?
In addition, as the bond failed, school district officials should collaborate with counterparts to lobby the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and legislators to reconsider his misguided proposal to use the soon-to-be millionaire tax funds for free community college tuition.
Instead, redirect these funds towards developing an infrastructure fund specifically designed for K-12. This strategic shift would create an environment benefiting students, educators, and taxpayers.
Renee Webster Newport
