I don’t know about, but I think it is high time state employees pay their fair share.  Governor Gregoire is in negotiations with the Washington Federation of State Employees.  She would like the union employees to pay 26% of their health insurance premiums instead of the current 12%.  The federation says  major employers such as Microsoft, Boeing and Swedish Medical Center pay 100% of their employee premiums.  What is their point?  Last time I checked, Boeing had moved their corporate headquarters to Chicago, and all three of these are private corporations.  The majority of our tax dollars in this state come from small businesses.  Small business is classified as companies with 50 employees or less.  Those employed by small business pay more than 26% of their premiums., you could bet on that!  The state and their employees need emergency medical care, because it is a sick system which is on life support and failing quickly.  I have the antidote, which calls for use of some strong medicine.  How about a healthy dose of reality?  The reality is the rest of us are dealing with monetary challenges and balancing budgets in our own homes every single day.  People are having to make decision over food on the table vs. an electric bill.  They keep telling us to tighten our belts, well then…they can do the same.

Lying about military medals is free speech according to the the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.  What do you think about this ruling?  I am truly sickened by this news.  So, I guess itis now legal to lie…oh wait, we can’t use that word anymore.  After all, someone who tells a lie used to be called a liar, now the politically correct term we have to use is disingenuous. Puh-leeze!

Here is a link to the story:

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Stolen-Valor-Act-Ruling-101023089.html

Glenn Beck had a rally in D.C. over the weekend called ‘Restoring Honor’…do you think we need to and how do we do it? There was some controversy over the date of the rally, which happened to fall on the 47th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech.  However, King’s niece Alveda was a keynote speaker.  I don’t understand what the progressives are so afraid of, could it be they just don’t like America?  I read the different news stories and looked at the photos from the event and it seems pretty clear to me they are scared of something.

A woman is claiming discrimination because she cannot wear her head scarf at work. She has worked for Disneyland for two years. It has only become an issue since the recent start of Ramadan. What do you think about this? Why do you think this has now become an issue for her?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgMOIW_oJVE

-200 was passed (1998) by 60% of Washington voters which forced the state to stop making minority-hiring mandatory. A Bellingham contractor has had his low bid for DOT work thrown out because he didn’t spend enough money on subcontractors owned by women and minorities. What do you think, is this fair?

There was a case every similar to this:

http://www.adversity.net/WesternStatesPaving/

“Washington state cannot favor minority-owned firms in awarding road-building contracts because it hasn’t proved minority contractors have faced discrimination, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled [on Mon., May 9, 2005].” - Associated Press

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0FvniKzvPQ&feature=related

The Confederate flags were part of the Civil War Re-Enactment group in the same parade following Koster.

What do you think of this video which was approved by Larsen and posted on his web page?

I think Larsen owes Koster and the Tea Party an apology!

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Little-known-fact-Obamas-failed-stimulus-program-cost-more-than-the-Iraq-war-101302919.html

Facts are stubborn things. - Ronald Regan

 The Lummi Tribe has made it’s final offer to the county to run the ferry. The County wants to pay $200,000 a year and the tribe wants $200,000 per year…PLUS $110,000 per year to lease tide lands…PLUS $4 Million dollars from the county when the tribe decides to build a marina.  I think the previous County Councils have let this go on far too long.  I say take our money, move elsewhere and put up toll roads to the reservation.  While we are at it, the WTA would no longer run on out there, they could pay for their own road improvements and we could put up toll roads.  I think a toll road on Slater would be great.  Of course, Whatcom County citizens would get a free pass. Maybe you like my co-host’s idea better…just make Lummi Island a “vehicle free zone”.

What do you think and what is the solution?

Hundreds of demonstrators both for and against the Islamic center planned near Ground Zero had confrontations yesterday in NYC. Some union construction workers are now saying they will not work on the project regardless of the bad economic situation. Do you support it or oppose and why?

FDA advisory panel has voted 12-1 to drop the endorsement for a medication for breast cancer treatment (Avastin). C iting “effectiveness” grounds for the decision.  The drug is good enough for patients with colon cancer and brain cancer but not good enough for breast cancer because it may “only extend life a month”. What do you think about this decision? Do you really want the government telling you only a month isn’t worth it?