Skagit Valley HeraldBy Whitney PipkinDecember 15, 2011The U.S. Navy still intends to base the replacement plane for P-3 Orions at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island by 2017, Rep. Rick Larsen and Sen. Patty Murray said today in a joint press release.The Navy said earlier this year that the replacement aircraft for the submarine hunter and surveillance aircraft, called P-8As, would go instead… Read more »

The Bellingham HeraldBy Jared PabenDecember 15, 2011Amtrak Cascades passengers will enjoy more reliable southbound service into Bellingham because U.S. border agents will conduct security inspections in Vancouver, B.C., rather than along the tracks in Blaine.A recently released agreement between President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will require U.S. Customs and… Read more »

Whidbey ExaminerDecember 15, 2011The U.S. Navy still intends to base P-8As at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island by 2017, Rep. Rick Larsen and Sen. Patty Murray, announced today in a press release.Larsen and Murray received letters this week from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert confirming the intent as outlined in the 2008 Department of Defense Record of Decision.Larsen met… Read more »

The Bellingham HeraldBy Jared PabenDecember 14, 2011The U.S. Postal Service has delayed the closing of any postal processing facilities until May 15, 2012, after U.S. senators asked for the delay.“The Postal Service will continue all necessary steps required for the review of these facilities during the interim period, including public input meetings,” according to a USPS… Read more »

The Bellingham HeraldBy John StarkDecember 14, 2011A proposed constitutional amendment to curb corporate political activities would not apply to labor unions.This post from Tuesday, Dec. 13 noted that U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen has signed on to the amendment, prompting some discussion in this space about the scope of the amendment.I asked Bryan Thomas, a Larsen spokesman, for clarification,… Read more »

The Bellingham HeraldBy Jared PabenDecember 14, 2011The U.S. House and Senate have both passed a bill that tightens requirements for pipeline operators, a bill that Carl Weimer, executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust and a Whatcom County Council member, said is step in the right direction but doesn’t go far enough.WeimerAmong other things, the bill requires pipeline… Read more »

The Bellingham HeraldBy John StarkDecember 13, 2011Via a Facebook post, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen has announced co-sponsorship of H.J. Res 90, which would roll back the wide-ranging political rights of corporations as recognized under the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.H.J. Res 90 would “expressly exclude for-profit corporations from the rights given to natural… Read more »

Seattle TimesBy Jim WerkhovenDecember 12, 2011Dairy farming gives a big boost to Washington's economy. Milk is the state's second most valuable farm crop, behind only apples. It is expected to generate a whopping $1.3 billion in 2011.Unfortunately, Washington's dairy farmers took a hard punch in the gut two years ago and many have yet to recover. As the Great Recession took hold, milk… Read more »

Alaska DispatchBy Mia BennettDecember 10, 2011The U.S. Congressional Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, part of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, held a hearing earlier this month on U.S. Coast Guard operations in the Arctic. The chief topic of concern was icebreakers. As I reported back in February, the U.S. will be without heavy icebreakers for at… Read more »

Seattle TimesBy Lornet TurnbullDecember 10, 2011As his son moved through high school, Xiaohong Mu began researching the immigration policies of Western countries where he believed his boy would get the best education.The owner of a petroleum-engineering firm in the southwest Chinese city of Chengdu, Mu considered Australia and Canada before settling on the United States.America, he… Read more »