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Whatcoms congressman offers his take on deficit reduction

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The Bellingham HeraldBy John StarkNovember 18, 2011U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, has staked out a position on the debt reduction plans now being thrashed out by the bipartisan “supercommittee.” Larsen says he agrees that the nation would benefit from a big deficit cut, but he fears that Republican proposals would harm Medicare and Social Security and the people who rely on…

Obama Bolsters his 'Pacific President' Credentials in Asia Trip

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U.S. News and World ReportBy Jessica RettigNovember 18, 2011Following his announcement of a U.S. "pivot" toward the Pacific region, President Obama is in Bali, Indonesia, this weekend for the East Asia Summit. His visit marks the first-time the United States has attended the regional meeting.While few expect anything concrete to emerge from the conference, Obama's symbolic visit…

Larsen calls for throwing kickback cronies into the penalty box

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Whidbey News-TimesNovember 15, 2011Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Arlington, today called on Congress to prohibit the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from awarding contracts to felons convicted of contract fraud, waste and abuse, according to a press release from his office.Larsen, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, introduced a…

Fisher Slough finished

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Stanwood/Camano NewsBy Jerimiah HaganNovember 15, 2011Rep. Rick Larsen (D – Wash.) tucked his collar around his chin and headed into the wind last Monday, on a tour of the Fisher Slough project for which he helped secure funding.Bob Carey and Jenny Baker, with The Nature Conservancy, walked him through the rerouting of Big Ditch and the new siphon, where it passes under Fisher…

Cantwell, Larsen Hail 'Crown Jewel' Designation For San Juans

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KGMI News ReportingNovember 14, 2011FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- Two Washington lawmakers are hailing a decision by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to include areas of the San Juan Islands on a list of federal lands that deserve permanent protection.Senator Maria Cantwell and Representative Rick Larsen have introduced legislation in their respective chambers to create a National Conservation…

Larsens bill to expedite overseas business visas becomes law

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Skagit Valley Heraldby Whitney PipkinNovember 14, 2011A bill presented by U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) that expedites the visa process for American business and government personnel traveling to the Asia-Pacific region was signed into law today.President Obama signed the Business Travel Cards Act at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hawaii this morning. Larsen said in a…

Rep. Larsen urges USPS to reconsider closure of Everett mail facility

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Everett HeraldBy Debra SmithNovember 10, 2011EVERETT -- The U.S. Postal Service isn't considering what it would truly cost Snohomish County if an area mail processing facility closed, Rep. Rick Larsen said Wednesday.The quality of mail delivery would "greatly diminish" in an area stretching from here to the Canadian border, the 2nd District Democrat said.People and businesses…

Foreign investor program may remain to create jobs in Whatcom County

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The Bellingham HeraldDave GallagherNovember 10, 2011Creating jobs is crucial to getting the local economy back on track, so a pilot program successful in doing that might be sticking around.Earlier this week U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, unveiled legislation to make permanent a program that has created hundreds of jobs in Whatcom County over the past three years.The bill is called the…

United States looks to compete against Canada for wealthy immigrants

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Yahoo! NewsBy Andy RadiaNovember 9, 2011If you have $500,000 laying around, you can buy yourself a Green Card through a little-known immigrant investor pilot program in the United States.The EB-5 Regional Centre program,  allocates 5,000 visas a year for individuals who invest $500,000 into one of over 200 US Government designated investment funds across the country.With job creation…

Congressman Larsen Lobbies to Keep Everett, WA Postal Facility Open

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My Everett NewsNovember 9, 2011Everett Government, Everett JobsCongressman Rick Larsen today released a letter he’s written to the Postmaster General asking that the Mail Processing Facility on Hardeson Road not be closed. Here’s the contents of that letter…November 9, 2011The Honorable Patrick R. DonahoePostmaster General and Chief Executive OfficerUnited States Postal…