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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 14, 2017)
OPINION 4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 Founded in 1873 DAVID F. PERO, Publisher & Editor JIM VAN NOSTRAND, Managing Editor JEREMY FELDMAN, Circulation Manager DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager CARL EARL, Systems Manager OUR VIEW Congress should do its job and protect Dreamers L ast week, Donald Trump rescinded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals , an Obama-era policy that gave short-term relief to about 800,000 residents who ille- gally entered the United States as children. Nicknamed “Dreamers,” those young people temporar- ily protected by DACA are among the most widely supported groups of illegal immigrants in the country. According to most recent surveys, 75 percent to 80 percent of Americans approve of keeping them in the U.S., either via some sort of avenue to citizenship or under special government protection from depor- tation. After all, these are children who arrived here without really having a choice, have known no other home and have committed no crimes while in this country. Still, there are immigration hardliners who won’t budge, and those 20 percent to 25 percent of Americans and their represen- tatives have stopped any meaningful immigration reform from being enacted, even on a lay up like the Dreamers. For decades our national legislative bodies have failed in their duties. In order to protect their own hides from that vocal minority, members of those bodies have disregarded the will of a large majority of Americans. And in covering their own behinds, those c ongressmen are hanging Americans — and should-be Americans — out to dry. This country has long needed comprehensive immigration reform, but Congress hasn’t got it done. This country has long needed massive infrastructure investment, but Congress hasn’t got it done. This country has long needed comprehensive tax reform, but don’t hold your breath. This puts presidents in a poor position. Being a constitu- tional law scholar, Barack Obama admitted that his DACA pro- gram was on shaky legal ground from the beginning. He made no bones about that, but felt he had no other choice because Congress had abdicated its duties by doing nothing and leaving a critical problem festering and unresolved. President Trump asserted last week that DACA was sure to be challenged in court — and it would likely fall. Perhaps he is right. But the announcement of his decision was nearly universally panned by c ongressmen both Republican and Democratic. Yet how hypocritical of them. They are the peo- ple who can solve this mess, yet they choose to criticize rather than create. A wide majority of Americans want to protect Dreamers. Congress should do its job and create a reasonable, legal sys- tem for doing so. Then get on to the next problem on the list. Military spouses also serve our country T oday’s edition of Coast Weekend includes a story about a new book highlighting military spouses. “Behind the Scenes: Tales of Military Spouses Making a Difference” includes a segment on Stacey Benson, a skilled photographer and graphic designer who moved to Astoria this summer. Her husband, a former special forces soldier, is a law enforce- ment specialist who has just been assigned to the Coast Guard c utter Steadfast, which is homeported here. Our culture has evolved to the point where people of all polit- ical stripes fi nd common ground acknowledging the contribu- tion of the outstanding men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. But these brave people would not be able to serve their country with confi dence without the support of their families who keep the home fi res burning while they are away on their missions. However, Benson and the others featured in the book aren’t content to just do that. They make a difference advocating for veterans, helping other spouses and serving in key capacities in their communities. Benson, for example, works for the Semper Fi Fund, a registered charity that aids injured veterans in their transition to civilian life. Astoria takes great pride in being a Coast Guard city. Having dedicated, well-trained professionals to protect mariners on our perilous coast with daily acts of valor is something we all appreciate. And having the service here on the North Coast has enriched our community with leadership for decades. But along with these men and women in uniform come their spouses and their families. Mindful of the positive example that Benson and others in the book offer us, we are delighted to offer all service spouses our grateful thanks. They serve our country, too. GUEST COLUMN Shape plans to cut carbon emissions for coastal communities cents/gallon of gas) could fund transformative investments in a cleaner economy. But the Alliance has proposed to raise the tax as much as 7 percent annually whenever emissions exceed goals. Other bundant fi sheries are Ilwaco’s lifeblood, states are achieving — and beating — emis- so I take an interest in reducing the car- sions targets with low carbon prices. Why not bon emissions that undercut the ocean’s Washington? Recommendations: Limit the tax to ability to produce seafood. I own a charter fi shing $15 for at least fi ve years. Cap later price hikes at operation and currently serve as mayor of the rate of local wage increases by county. Ilwaco . • Protect rural communities. Why do I care? Overheated river water Because we lack Seattle’s density, wealth killed half the sockeye salmon returning and infrastructure, some criteria in the to the Columbia River in 2015. That year Alliance proposal could exclude us. a warm-water “blob” in the ocean helped Recommendations: Make sure carbon fuel an algae bloom that fouled some of revenues help rural people drive down our our main fi sheries with a neurotoxin called fuel bills . Reserve 25 percent of carbon Mike domoic acid. It caused job-destroying revenues for rural areas. Allow rural Cassinelli closures of Dungeness crab fi shing. It shut projects that use fossil fuels if they reduce the razor clam harvest that draws hundreds emissions. Wherever labor standards gov- of thousands of visitors to Washington’s ern investments, use average local wages coast. by county. The risks and damages just keep • Fund projects to improve fuel effi - mounting. Ilwaco’s biggest private ciency in both vehicles and commercial employer is a fi sh plant that relies on city marine vessels. Transportation produces water from a forested watershed. Logging nearly half of Washington’s carbon emis- Brad Warren sions. We need investment guidelines that and climate change could destabilize our water supply. make improvements affordable, not unat- A citizens’ initiative is being drafted that could tainable. Recommendations: Use simple, cheap help Washingtonians prosper and cut carbon pol- “input and output” measures to confi rm emission lution. The measure needs improvement to reduce reductions in transport (instead of picking winners emissions enough and to fi t rural realities. But the by defi ning “verifi ed” technologies). Fuel purchase proposition wending toward ballots in 2018 stands records, fuel fl ow meters and biannual emission a decent chance of passing. tests might work. The Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy pro- • Don’t isolate Washington. The Alliance has posal would raise about $1.2 billion a year initially proposed to prohibit investments to reduce any and reinvest the money to reduce pollution, ease emissions that occur outside the state. This disad- climate impacts, and mitigate inequitable impacts vantages residents who buy fuel at home but burn of carbon pricing. A few percent of revenues are much of it out of state (including fi shermen). It will reserved to aid workers who could lose their jobs also impair efforts to link arms across borders to if big polluters close shop and energy-intensive meet this big, shared challenge. Recommendations: businesses costs rise. Administrative expenses are Explicitly permit investments that reduce capped at 5 percent . For the balance, the Alliance emissions from vessels or vehicles owned by promises 70 percent for clean energy and 30 per- Washington individuals or entities, regardless of cent for water and forest projects. whether those emissions occur within the state. Carbon revenues might help us protect Ilwaco’s These are just a few ideas to refi ne the water supply. They could help build an effi cient Alliance’s plan to work for fi shery-dependent com- cold storage, saving the cost and emissions from munities like ours. The Alliance has made a decent trucking our tuna all the way to Bellingham and start tackling a problem that matters to all of us, but back. With some adjustments, this plan has poten- they have their own priorities. Now it’s up to the tial. Suggestions: rest of us to help shape that plan into a solution we • Achieve Washington’s g reenhouse g as can support (and live with). Time is short. Probably targets. An initial model forecast indicates that the by the end of October, the window will close to Alliance plan (as previewed in 2017’s H.R. 1646) adjust initiative language. How to get involved? would fall short of state emission targets. Why Join the Working Group on Seafood and Energy, shoot to miss? Recommendation: Model emissions which helped me learn enough to speak up. outcomes and adjust the proposed investment Mike Cassinelli is the mayor of Ilwaco, Wash- priorities (and complementary rules) until the plan ington. Brad Warren is senior adviser to the Work- can deliver. ing Group on Seafood and Energy, a trade orga- • Keep costs low. The proposed starting price nization representing the seafood industry, coastal of $15 per metric ton of carbon dioxide (13.5 communities and fi shery-dependent tribes. By MIKE CASSINELLI and BRAD WARREN Special to The Daily Astorian A EO Media Group/File Photo Jessie’s Ilwaco Fish Co. is a major processor of Dungeness crab.
