WASHINGTON — House Republicans blasted a wide-reaching wilderness bill Tuesday and ridiculed its most high-profile supporter, singer Carole King.
GOP members of the House Natural Resources Committee said the bill would make residents of five Western states “feel the Earth move under their feet” as land is transferred from publicly accessible parks and forests to off-limits wilderness.
They also said the bill could cause employment rates to go “tumbling down” by banning logging, oil exploration and other development on nearly 24 million acres across Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon and Washington.
King, an Idaho resident and longtime environmental activist, said she was not offended by the GOP’s spoof of her 1971 hit song, “I Feel the Earth Move.”
“If that’s their best shot, we won’t have any problem passing this bill,” she said as she waited to testify for the measure, which if adopted would be the second-largest wilderness expansion in U.S. history.
Gregoire’s daughter hired by Gary Locke
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke has hired Courtney Gregoire as his director of legislative affairs.
Gregoire is the daughter of Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire, who succeeded Locke as governor.
Courtney Gregoire, a graduate of Harvard Law School, previously served as legislative director and chief counsel for Sen. Maria Cantwell.
Shine: Bridge work resumes after storm
Some work resumed Tuesday afternoon on the Hood Canal floating bridge after contractors waited out a storm that sent waves crashing over the pontoons.
Transportation Department spokeswoman Becky Hixson also says the shuttle boat between Lofall and South Point could resume late Tuesday afternoon, weather permitting.
Engineer Dave Ziegler says winds as high as 33 mph sent waves crashing into the bridge early Tuesday, postponing plans to tow out one pontoon.
Ziegler says the delays might be made up during the six-week project to renovate the bridge.
Olympia: Welfare cases up 18 percent
The recession has more poor people applying for a Washington welfare program called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
The Seattle Times reports enrollments in the past year increased 18 percent to about 59,000 families.
The cost of the monthly grants to poor adults with children is expected to total $1.56 billion in the next two-year budget, a 9 percent increase.
A family of two — a parent and child — receives $453 a month. The amount increases by about $100 for each additional family member. Many families also receive food stamps worth about $100 a month.
Bellevue: Grocery offers singles night
Where do singles meet in Bellevue? Sometimes at the Whole Foods grocery store.
On the first Tuesday of each month it holds a singles night in the store’s wine tasting room. People meet and mingle while sampling wine and appetizers.
Whole Foods Chef Joy Stroh says the store is thinking about a happy hour night for teachers or firefighters.
Associated Press
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