06/13/08 Harsh words on heat rule; Congresswoman promotes hydro

Washington Ag June 13, 2008 State Senator Mark Schoesler, Republican leader on the Senate Agriculture Committee is disappointed by the Department of Labor and Industries adoption of a permanent rule regarding heat stress. In a news release Schoesler says a strong majority of those who testified at public hearings and submitted comments did not support the adoption of a permanent rule, yet the agency went ahead in its government-knows-best way and added to the piles of rules and regulations employers must face. The heat stress rule goes into effect July 5th. 5th District Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers is the Ranking Member on the House Water and Power subcommittee and she held a hearing Thursday on hydropower. McMorris Rodgers: "I hope that people would recognize that at a time when we need more energy as a country, and at a time we are facing skyrocketing energy costs, that we wouldn't be seriously considering removing dams that are playing such an important role in generating electricity and generating electricity in such an clean emissions-free way." Among those testifying at the hearing were State Senator Bob Morton and Grant County Public Utility District General Manager Tim Culbertson. I'm Bob Hoff.