Letters to the Editor

The Editor:
One year after the 2006 elections, I thought it might be helpful to update you on some of the new congress’ accomplishments.
To address concerns about ethics and the culture of corruption, the House passed tough reforms to tighten reporting rules for campaign contributions and ban gifts and meals from lobbyists.
To address our homeland security needs, we passed the 9/11 commission’s recommendations to help prevent future terrorist attacks and make America safer.
This congress made the single largest investment in college financial aid since the 1944 GI Bill, boosting aid for students and cutting interest rates on subsidized student loans in half – all at no new cost to taxpayers.
For example, the College Cost Reduction Act will make higher education more affordable for over 4,500 students at Western Washington University and Bellingham Technical College alone.
To help many of the 16,000 veterans in Whatcom County, the House and Senate passed the largest increase in VA funding in 77 years. 
Our bill would give the Veterans Administration resources to hire more qualified doctors and nurses, reduce waiting times for medical appointments and continue providing essential services to local veterans. With more veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, we need to ensure that all our veterans get the high quality care they need and deserve.
We have done all this without adding to the nation’s fiscal deficit. In fact, this Congress has earned the fiscally responsible label by sticking to strict “pay-as-you-go” rules.
In the coming year, we will keep working to provide opportunities for family farms and small businesses to thrive. We will keep working to support our service men and women, end U.S. military involvement in Iraq’s civil war and refocus on fighting terrorists.
We will push the president to sign our comprehensive energy bill into law to help make America energy independent. And we will keep working to pass legislation to provide health care coverage to 10 million children across the country, and extend health care coverage to thousands of kids in Northwest Washington who need it. 
Congressman Rick Larsen
Bellingham

The Editor:
I want to send my personal thank you to all of the people that made this year's fall festival at the middle school cafeteria such a success. 
To the parents that brought their children to a place where they could have a fun and safe night, thank you. 
To the parents and other community members that brought candy to pass out and to those that made and brought cakes and cupcakes for the cake walk, thank you.  To the churches, parents, and community members that volunteered their time to help set up and take down, thank you. 
To Big Al's Diner, Blackberry House, Little Caesar's Pizza, Miniature World, Nikki's Diner, Pizza Factory, Red White & Brew, Seaside Bakery, Subway, and Cynthia Ridings for their support and donations for the prize drawings, thank you.  To all the employees in the Blaine School District that helped behind the scenes, thank you. 
Thank you to Cost Cutter for the donation of chili. There was a lot of support for this event by the community, and for that I extend a big thank you.
It was a fun and safe place for the kids because of all of you.
Kim Covell
Blaine

Letters Policy
The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank-you letters should be limited to 10 names. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.

Please send your letter to:
225 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230 or fax 360/332-2777.
E-mail:editor@thenorthernlight.com

Letters Policy

The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank you letters are limited to five individuals or groups. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.

Please email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com