Clean water revisions
threaten state authority
Thank you to The Daily Sentinel for outlining the significant negative impacts of the Clean Water Restoration Act in the Oct. 6 editorial, “Navigate carefully in clean-water reform.”
The issue of Clean Water Act jurisdiction has been challenged many times over the last couple of decades. In 2001 and 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court reined in the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers when they over-reached their authority. Now, the environmental community wants to make changes to the Clean Water Act and grant the federal government jurisdiction over every wet spot in the country.
Since the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972, we’ve made a lot of progress in cleaning up our nation’s rivers and protecting wetlands and wildlife habitat. The act created partnerships between the states and the federal government — granting the EPA and Army Corps jurisdiction over some waters and leaving the remaining waters to the states to regulate.
Everyone should take to heart their duty to protect our natural resources, but the Clean Water Restoration Act essentially grants the EPA and Army Corps unlimited jurisdiction over water. That’s not good for the Western Slope and not good for Colorado. Hopefully, our senators and representatives have the courage to vote “No.”
CARLYLE CURRIER, Secretary
Colorado Farm Bureau
Board of Directors
Molina

Local economy depends
too much on retail trade
Grand Junction City Councilman Gregg Palmer was recently quoted as saying, “Retail (trade) is fragile.”
When the city, the county and the Chamber of Commerce discuss economic development, one repeated mantra is more retail trade. Those three have built the economy for the city and the county on a house of cards (retail trade) which has now collapsed, as shown by the decrease in sales-tax revenue and the resultant budget issues.
Community leaders never learn.
D.D. LEWIS
Clifton

Columbus deserves honor
for courage, leadership
Having read the Oct. 12 Associated Press article in The Daily Sentinel titled, “School alters Columbus Day lesson plans,” it is edifying to know that Christopher Columbus was “very, very, mean, very bossy.”  He obviously didn’t have a 21st century kindergarten teacher to show him how to lead a mutinous crew of reprobate sailors in a touchy-feely way.
How enlightening to learn also that he didn’t even know where he was, considering that he only had the mathematics of the 15th century to rely on and no charts to show him the way. Nor was a direct crossing on the high seas of the Atlantic ever done before. And what about those three wooden ships, one of which never made it back?
The poor misinformed dolt even had to convince the royal heads of state, the scientific community and the maritime leaders of the time that he wasn’t crazy — that he knew what he was doing. He even had to be so convincing about his dream, his ability, his confidence and his leadership to persuade them to invest their fortune in his undertaking.
Shouldn’t Columbus be remembered and honored, as should all great men for their courage, vision, leadership and intelligence? Or are these qualities in contemporary society no longer desirable?
ROBERT A. TALLARICO
Grand Junction

Support Rose Pugliese
in School Board race
I have three children in public schools here in Mesa County and I value their education. It is the key to their future. For this reason, I have a very a strong vested interest in who resides on the school board for District 51. My wife and I want people who show a consistent standard for strong moral and ethical convictions, who understand the role state government plays in school funding and the long-term consequences of a good education on the future of our community.
Rose Femia Pugliese, a current candidate for District 51 School Board, holds the values that are important to our family and the future of all our children. Rose is extremely energetic, professional and will be a proven steward of our community. She dedicates herself to pro bono work for the needy while also volunteering and creating programs that support young people.
I encourage voters to visit Rose’s Web site, www.roseforschoolboard.com, and take time to learn more about her. And finally, please join me in voting for Rose Femia Pugliese for School Board District E seat.
REP. STEVE KING
Grand Junction

Obama is dealing with
problems he inherited
Recent letter writer and failed county commissioner candidate Dave Kearsley appears to be trying to re-establish his Republican “creds” after being perceived as a RINO — Republican in name only — in the commissioner race. His letter takes Obama to task for not miraculously curing in nine months all of the nation’s ills left to him by pretty much 30 years of misrule.
Readers of his letter may have noticed that there are no assertions of what is the “proper” course Obama should be taking, just innuendos of where Dave disagrees with the president’s current tactics while disregarding stated long-term strategies.
Big national debt? Much of it is inherited and an economy nearly devoid of consumer spending that has been at least 70 percent of the previous economic mix. If government spending doesn’t fill that hole, what will? If you fear for your job and are already deep in debt, would you go out on a spending spree in the name of “supporting our national economy?” If you are a businessman, would you expand and hire more people if you have excess capacity and too many employees for current demand?
Afghanistan? Currently under review as to what is the importance of our mission and what, exactly, is that mission. Is shooting from the hip Dave’s recommendation?
Medicare for seniors? Advocating taking waste, fraud and unnecessary features out of the program is a problem?
Iran? Talking with our adversaries is unwise? Was opening China through discussion problematic?
Mr. Kearsley has now demonstrated that he is, indeed, a true Republican. There’s a simple answer to everything and that answer is: No! It doesn’t matter in the least what Obama’s — and Congress’ — short-, mid- or long-term actions and policies are. They will be wrong to the Kearsleys of the world and No! will be the right answer.
JOHN BORGEN
Grand Junction

Republican Roosevelt also won Nobel Peace Prize
Obviously letter writer Will Eidson, who asserts only liberals receive the Nobel Peace Prize, has never heard of the first U.S. president to earn this award, Theodore Roosevelt — a Republican.
Additionally, Mr. Eidson might note that this prized award is not based on political persuasion, but on whether one has done something positive for the world.
President Obama’s peace initiatives, based on communication and diplomacy — not aggression and arrogance, are a wonderful positive pursuit and deserving of this honor.  That the United States has rejoined the world community in a respected position is an additional benefit for all of us.
BILL HASSELL
Grand Junction

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