Blame GOP for devastating cuts

Secretary of State Kim Wyman wrote an informative, recent Guest Column outlining the president’s proposed budget that would eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the devastating effects it would have on state, regional and local libraries. This same budget has proposed massive cuts for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other departments that would “..promote the general Welfare...” (preamble to the U. S. Constitution).

Should we be surprised? This is what happens when her (Republican) colleagues control the presidency and both Houses of Congress. What to do? We can write our representatives, Senators Murray and Cantwell and Representative Heck (all Democrats) and request they oppose these cuts, which I believe they’ll do. What more can we do? Support with our time and money, political and civic, organizations and people which will oppose these devastating cuts and not vote for Republicans for both national and state/local (which serve as the “farm teams” for national) offices until there are Republicans who understand and demonstrate “...promote the general Welfare...”

This story was originally published June 24, 2017 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Blame GOP for devastating cuts."