Sounder The Islands’
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WEDNESDAY, March 21, 2012 n VOL. 45, NO. 12 n 75¢
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Larsen weighs in U.S. Representative Rick Larsen listens to Orcas Islanders’ concerns during visit by CALI BAGBY Staff reporter
Cali Bagby/staff photo
Islanders gathered on Thursday with cardboard signs calling for peace, change, support of the Occupy Wall Street Movement, and the removal of Ed DeMarco. There were 200 similar rallies organized across the country.
Orcas Island joins nation in ‘Save Our Homes’ rally
DeMarco, who was appointed by former Staff reporter President George W. Bush, won’t adjust mortAs the rain stopped and sunlight broke out from gages to reflect declining home values, according the clouds, seven islanders stood in Waterfront to MoveOn.org, a nonprofit aimed at “giving Park with cardboard signs calling for peace, change, Americans a voice in a political process dominated support of the Occupy Wall Street movement, and by big money and armies of lobbyists.” The orgathe removal of Ed DeMarco, head of the Federal nization said adjusting mortgage rates would give people more money to spend, thus sparking the Housing Finance Agency. economy. “We want someone that will “We want to raise Abreu said that MoveOn.org do his job,” said organizer Sharon is a democratic organization, but Abreu. “Homeowners are strugawareness. We can’t this is not a bipartisan issue. gling to make ends meet. Helping just accept what is “I am here as simply a conthem means saving their homes, cerned citizen,” she said. stabilizing the market, and helphappening.” Morgan Meadows held a sign ing to get the economy back on — Rally organizer Sharon Abreu reading “Imagine ‘We the People’ track for everyone.” in Action.” She was demonstratThis gathering is one of 200 ing because she almost lost her home a year ago. “Save Our Home” rallies for MoveOn.org’s cam“It took me ten months to retrieve it,” said paign asking President Barack Obama to remove DeMarco and make Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Meadows. “The community held a benefit to help, government-controlled mortgage lenders, change that’s why I am standing up for the Occupy [Wall their policy to provide relief to the 10 million Americans struggling with mortgage debt. See RALLY, Page 6 by CALI BAGBY
A wide range of topics was covered by U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) during two recent meetings on Orcas Island. He started off the discussion with his stance on women’s health care and reproductive rights. “I am shocked that we are having this debate, women are shocked and afraid because of this debate,” he said. “I am going to fight and advocate for the progress women have made for reproductive and health care rights.” He is referring to the debate started, in part, by a mandate in President Barack Obama’s federal health care law requiring employers to cover contraception without co-payments. The president recently proposed a compromise that would require insurers to provide the contraceptive coverage without charging employers, but questions remain surrounding self-insured religiously affiliated institutions. Republicans and Democrats have been criticized for focusing too much energy on this and other contraception issues and less focus on topics like the economy and the war in Afghanistan. Larsen said that other elected officials need to have their “stakes in the ground,” and several women in the audience uttered “thank you” in unison. Women’s rights was just one issue covered during Larsen’s session with local business leaders followed by an open community meeting on March 16. Over the course of two hours he covered subjects ranging from ferry terminal repair to the state of Congress to his stance on the building of a coal terminal in northern Washington. Larsen addressed issues of the economy, specifically the summer “troughs” and winter “peaks” for unemployment in San Juan County. One way to level off those vast dips is to increase telecommuting on the islands, he said. Larsen added that the Senate has passed a two-year transportation bill creating money for ferries and terminals, and that he would
Cali Baby/staff photo
U.S. Rep Rick Larsen during the recent meeting on Orcas Island.
focus some of the bill’s funds for the Anacortes Terminal, which would be beneficial for tourism in the islands. “Public transportation means more jobs in the northwest,” he said. Larsen said he will also continue his “life-long” pursuit of affordable energy by trying to give businesses like OPALCO access to affordable energy. Another way to support
See LARSEN, Page 6
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