Jesse Young on Wild Olympics Legislation

 JESSE YOUNG submitted the following Letter to the Editor to the Peninsula Daily News.

“Wild Olympics” is an important issue for the residents of Grays Harbor county.  With the introduction of “The Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic River Act of 2012” on June 21st, this proposal will now be considered by Congress.

Although some modification from the original proposal has been made, I remain firmly opposed to the plan.  I’m not alone – many local governments, community groups, and individual citizens have come out against it, contrary to what proponents say.

It's very clear that this bill's intent is to not correct a current problem, but to preempt future use options based on the assumption that future decisions will inherently be detrimental in nature. 

 Is it really the best environmental policy to lock up our land - on a false premise that our communities cannot be trusted - and then tell the rest of the world what to do with its land?  Certainly not.  If we are truly concerned about the environment then it is our duty to show the rest of the world how to do it.  As an American, I'd have it no other way. We've always led by example, and now is no time to stop.

 The Seattle Times categorized “Wild Olympics” this way:  “The primary effect of the legislation is to prevent future administrations from opening up ancient forests and wild rivers to new logging, road building, mining, drilling or dams.”  I ask why?  Can’t we honor our land while enjoying not only its beauty but its natural resources too?  With current technology and that of the future, surely there’s a way that we can do so.

 In short, “Wild Olympics” would designate over 126,000 acres of Olympic National Forest land as “wilderness” and create new “Wild and Scenic” rivers on the Olympic Peninsula.  While these designations sound innocent, they are very restrictive, and will cost our already depressed Peninsula economy good jobs in the timber industry.

 Without good forest management, which may include selective logging, how are we going to prevent forest fires that might spread to developed areas?  And, should a fire start, how are firefighters going to gain access without roads?  Without roads, hunters will have to haul their kills out on their backs.  Without roads, most of us will NOT have the opportunity to visit these beautiful areas.

 Finally, it is clear this bill will not be effective for our communities and economy.  The legislation as written does not include any estimate of the cost, and the Congressional Budget Office has not yet “scored” it.  But, decommissioning (or tearing up) existing roads will surely cost money – don’t we have more pressing needs for our federal tax dollars?  I remain firmly opposed.

Jesse Young

Candidate U.S. Congress, WA-06

Jesse Young Endorsed by Washington Farm Bureau

June 12, 2012, Tacoma, WA– The Washington State Farm Bureau PAC endorsed Jesse Young for Congress from Washington’s 6thCongressional District on Monday.

Washington Farm Bureau is a grassroots advocacy organization representing the social and economic interests of farm and ranch families at the local, state and national levels.  By providing leadership and organizational skills, the Farm Bureau seeks to gain public support on the issues affecting farm and ranch families. Farm Bureau has more than 40,000 member households across the state.

Dan Wood, Farm Bureau’s associate director of government relations said “Jesse is a true friend of the entrepreneur and small business.  Our farmers and ranchers need representatives in DC who know how business works and how government policies can impact them.  Jesse understands the needs of the 6th District and will represent us well in Congress.”

“I’m delighted to receive this show of support from the Farm Bureau,” said Jesse Young.  “Farmers and ranchers are the foundations of their communities and are important to the economy of the 6th District.  I look forward to working with them and representing them in Washington, D.C..”

Jesse Young is leading the Republican field in endorsements.  He’s the only candidate with an official party endorsement - the Grays Harbor Republican Party gave its endorsement last fall and provided an unprecedented show of support by adoption of a Resolution reaffirming that endorsement at the County Convention this spring.  He has received numerous endorsements from elected officials and other candidates for office as well.   Jesse Young has achieved “On the Radar” status with the National Republican Congressional Committee’s Young Guns program.

Jesse Young is a GOP candidate for the 6th Congressional District. He has built a strong grassroots campaign and been endorsed by many Republican leaders. Young is also an information Technology consultant whose global business experience in a variety of industries will help the 6th District create jobs for the 21st Century. Jesse grew up impoverished and sometimes homeless in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood, and now resides in Gig Harbor with his wife and five children.

Jesse Young in Grays Harbor

Harborites had plenty of opportunities to meet Jesse Young and hear about his vision for the 6th District recently, with volunteer recruitment meetings in both Montesano and Hoquiam in February. Jesse Young is challenging multi-decade incumbent Norm Dicks in the 6th District. The February 23 meeting at the Hoquiam Library drew a capacity crowd and required additional seating.

Attendees at both meetings were given plenty to think about and act upon as Young opened the evening by asking rhetorically, "Why aren't we talking about the uniqueness of this district? It is set apart and unique among any district in the nation. It can be pre-eminent in job growth, and it doesn't take a top-down government program to do it."

Young also spoke about the Pacific Rim trade economy and its relationship to the Port of Grays Harbor, how Dodd-Frank is strangling small business and why it needs to be repealed, why private business, not government, creates jobs, and natural resources unique to the Olympic Peninsula such as oil, natural gas and rare earth metals. "Our vision includes bringing union jobs back to the Harbor," he said.

On the subject of Wild Olympics, which Young firmly opposes, he asked, "How many of you are tired of the other side framing the argument to put you on the defense? I intend to change that argument, and put forth a plan showing how we can honor our land and create jobs at the same time."

Young explained his three-phase plan for winning the 6th District, which includes intensive voter research down to the precinct level. Borrowing from the business world, Young outlined his plan using the acronym NAME: Non-negotiable integrity; Accountability; Measurability and Effectiveness.

Opening the floor for questions and answers, Young said, "I want to let you drive the meeting. Ask any questions you want in order to get over the hurdle of not believing we can get it done." As an example, he noted that "this campaign has raised more money against Norm Dicks than any other campaign."

Attendees received copies of Young's statement on Wild Olympics, Jesse Young for Congress stickers, palm cards, a three-page paper on where he stands on various issues, and a bio sheet, About Jesse. Volunteer opportunities in six categories were also provided, along with response cards.

"It's not good enough to just be right on the issues" Young emphasized. "You have to be right and effective on the issues." He concluded, "If you're ready to lock arms with this campaign, your time won't be wasted."

For more information, see: Jesse Young for Congress, visit Grays Harbor for Jesse Young on Facebook, or contact Terry Moore, Grays Harbor Chair for the Jesse Young for Congress, at: 289-7978 or ghrepublican@gmail.com.