Enjoy this State of Washington Legislative update from . If you find Rep. McCune’s bent on how things should be in the State of Washington, please consider contacting him and for sure donate time or money to keep principled representative’s like McCune in office!
Yours In Truth ~ Shelly
A message from Rep. Jim McCune, May 10, 2012
Dear Friends,
We are finally receiving some nice weather and I’m glad to hear the lawnmowers and trimmers fired up in the neighborhoods. There are many of us still cleaning up from the winter storms. It would be much more convenient if we didn’t have so many restrictions on how we utilize and care for our private property.
My office has received many calls from constituents commenting and lamenting on how boxed-in they feel with the never-ceasing rules and regulations directing their behavior. Authority over the use of our natural resources has been intertwined with many agencies—governmental and non-governmental. It’s rather sad that we must have permission to put overhangs on our shops to keep water off our equipment, or remove a fallen tree that is creating a water hazard, and that we could be fined for cutting down a tree on our own property. The stories are never-ending.
It’s difficult to comprehend how America (and the globe) became so enamored with the term “sustainability,” the rule-making system in place that guides policies. By reviewing the history of the concept and the background of those who funded, wrote and promoted the concept, we can see a pattern that is too obvious to ignore.
There are many pieces to understanding “sustainability.” Start by checking out the Town and Country Planning Act of 1947 in the United Kingdom (UK). It is famous for a number of its provisions. It greatly strengthened the control of local authorities over planning and land use. You can see sample chapters here. Please note the watermark UNESCO-EOLSS. The provisions in this document read like provisions in America. How did they get here?
Tracing “sustainability” is easy. Just go to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Web site. What is difficult is understanding why America is embracing and implementing this foreign agenda, not to mention sifting through the voluminous pages of research and information about it. For a visual explanation, watch this video. Yes, gaining this knowledge will require a good chunk of your time, but without this knowledge, we will continue to give away our individual rights that were given to us through the blood of our ancestors, and destroy the fabric of our liberty guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the Washington State Constitution.
In earlier e-mail updates, I cited information about the Earth Charter (look under non-governmental organizations) and how our own Department of Ecology promotes it on their Web site. Here is an easy-to-read article from the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law that explains the Earth Charter. A constitution for the environment has been written. You can read all about it and more here. For a short synopsis, click here.
According to Noah Webster, “sustainable” means: That may be sustained or maintained. The action is not sustainable. What does “sustainability” mean today? It means a new norm for ethical living described by Gro Harlem Brundtland (first Vice-President of the Socialist International and then prime minister of Norway) in her report, Our Common Future. “Sustainability” is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We are told that painful choices have to be made. Thus, in the final analysis, sustainable development must rest on political will. Who will define what our “needs” are? We must determine whose code of ethics we shall live by—those of our Founders or a global mix of confusion?
EDUCATION
How does education fit in with the “sustainable” agenda?
What is the focus of education today? Factual knowledge? As a reminder, here is the link to a speech by Dr. Shirley McCune (former OSPI employee under Terry Bergeson) discussing the restructuring of schools and telling us that education is no longer about teaching facts. Note, this astounding and applauded speech was back in 1989. An article titled A Changing Vision of Education by Nancy Carlsson-Paige and Linda Lantieri mirrors the vision described by Dr. Shirley McCune in her lecture. Does her philosophy align with your understanding of the purpose of education?
Now we have the federal government promising grant money to states that adopt Common Core State Standards (CCSS). We have Marc Tucker’s American Agenda for Education Reform. Marc Tucker designed the failed WASL. Marc Tucker (pg. 6) is famous for his “Dear Hillary” letter. Here is additional background on Marc Tucker’s influence on our country’s educational system, including RTTT and CCSS. Why is he considered an expert? There is no shortage of information on this subject.
BUDGETS (State and Federal)
As I mentioned in my end-of-session mailer, because of my concerns with the very low reserve it left, I could not support the supplemental budget. I also feel we can do a better job of controlling our spending. The federal government is setting a poor example for states and all entities. It is important you know what the budget breakdown looks like at the federal level. There is a trickledown effect. The state relies on a great amount of money from the federal government. The current debt at the federal level is $13 trillion. You can find a budget breakdown here: Background on Budget and Economy.
TRANSPORTATION
My interest in the history of our state’s Growth Management Act (GMA) led me to a very interesting interview with former Rep. Joe King. He said he was stuck in traffic and wanted to do something about unplanned growth. That was 25 years ago. Is the plan (GMA) that was put in place working?
Recently, I watched an eye-opening presentation (starting at 49 min. mark) by Wendell Cox about our region’s transportation and land-use policies. The Seattle Times ran his article titled “Region’s transportation and land-use policies have little effect on traffic congestion.” It’s an excellent read!
WOODSTOVE LEGISLATION
I have received a number of calls on House Bill 2326, the woodstove burning bill. I want to clarify that I did not support this measure. The legislation gives the Department of Ecology authority over woodstove use, particularly uncertified woodstoves. Apparently, parts of Pierce County did not meet federal air quality standards about 10 days each year. It amounts to more government intervention in our personal lives.
ELECTION-YEAR RESTRICTIONS
I want to remind you that because this is an election year, my legislative communications to you are restricted. After May 11, I am no longer allowed to send e-mail updates, such as this one. Hopefully, there is enough information in this e-mail to keep you busy for several months. After June 30, I am unable to initiate communications with constituents by mail or e-mail unless you contact me about an issue or request information. If you contact me, I can respond as a normal course of my work as your legislator. The mailing restrictions will remain in place until Dec. 1, 2012.
I appreciate all your support during my time in the Legislature. Please continue to contact me during the interim if you have any concerns, comments or need assistance with a state issue.
Sincerely,
Jim McCune
State Representative
jim.mccune@leg.wa.gov
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/McCune/
(253) 536-6088
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