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 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 tourism in the islands is the expediting of tourism visas, to make out of country visits more inviting, he added. There was also some discussion on the possibility of having a port of entry for customs on Orcas.
One of the biggest concerns raised by the audience was that small businesses are struggling to operate with the high costs of health care. One man said that health care prices have increased so much that he is going to have to ask his employees to pay in just to keep their health insurance.
Scott Lancaster of Orcas Island Hardware said he is concerned about the way the two parties are working with one another about important issues.
“We’re really getting the squeeze in small places like this,” he said. “Electricity is going up and I just want to let you know we are getting pinched. Democrats and Republicans are bickering over stuff … it’s crazy and has serious consequences to our businesses. You’re acting like children, not just in Congress, but at the White House too.”
Larsen said he shares his frustrations with islanders and that he agrees many are acting like children, but added that he doesn’t think he is one of them. He said that he often works with Republicans on significant issues.
The congressman said he is sorry that business owners are facing turmoil, but that it is difficult to asses the situation until all aspects of the health care reform kicks in.
Larsen also spoke about his support of the building of a coal terminal at Cherry Point in Ferndale, Wash., which he said will “create jobs in a county where there is not a lot of room for industrial growth.”
When asked about the budget cuts for U.S. Department of Agriculture for housing, Larsen responded those homes are extremely important, but that the tough truth of today is that it’s better to “trim around the ears than get a buzz cut.”
