The power remains with the people as we speak up
As I listened to stories of veterans, federal employees, service members, students and retirees, the urgency in the room was palpable. Our community is gravely concerned by the immediate and future impact of decisions made by executive action and Congressional inaction. I hope that our community continues to stay engaged and willing to share stories with the power to effect change.
The power of a democratic republic lies with the people, by design. I encourage my community to continue speaking up about the impact of legislative decisions before any more rights are removed. I am grateful to live in a community that cares deeply about the needs and rights of all people and hope that more elected officials will intentionally listen to citizens, here and nationally. The diversity of our voices is important.
Laura Rarig Pugh, Bremerton
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Community participation in Kitsap shows power of democracy | Letters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
5 hours ago
- Fox News
WATCH LIVE: Texas Senate special committee holds hearing on redistricting
Members of the Texas Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting hold a hearing on the state's Trump-backed redistricting map after the state House passed it Wednesday.
The Hill
5 hours ago
- The Hill
Trump touts Texas House passage of new congressional maps: ‘Big win'
President Trump celebrated the Texas GOP's 'win' late Wednesday, after the state House approved its new Congressional map following weeks of turmoil. 'Big WIN for the Great State of Texas!!! Everything Passed, on our way to FIVE more Congressional seats and saving your Rights, your Freedoms, and your Country, itself,' Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. He added, 'Texas never lets us down.' In an 88-52 vote, along party lines, Texas Republicans in the lower chamber advanced its new district lines, which could provide the GOP with up to five additional seats in next year's midterms. The legislation now heads to state senators for approval. Texas Democrats have pushed back on the mid-decade redistricting and fled the state for more than two weeks to break quorum and delay the vote. Several returned on Monday after multiple threats of arrest and an accrual of fines. The Democrats were then told they could not leave the chamber unless they agreed to a police escort. Several lawmakers agreed but state Rep. Nicole Collier (D) refused to be shadowed and slept in the House chamber for days drawing attention to representative's conditional release under terms announced by Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R). The redistricting fight in the Lone Star State has also sparked similar measures in other GOP states. Democratic-led states, including California, New York and Illinois, have also proposed countermeasures. 'Florida, Indiana, and others are looking to do the same thing. More seats equals less Crime, a great Economy, and a STRONG SECOND AMENDMENT,' Trump added in his post. 'It means Happiness and Peace.' California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) blasted Republicans in Texas for advancing the maps, which Democrats have argued unfairly benefit the GOP. 'This is a last gasp of a desperate party clinging to power,' Hochul said Wednesday in a statement following the vote. Newsom echoed the remarks, writing in a post online, 'You only try changing the rules if you think you're losing — and that's exactly what Texas Republicans are attempting to do.'
The Hill
6 hours ago
- The Hill
Democrats across US rip Texas House passage of new congressional lines
Democratic leaders from coast-to-coast ripped Texas Republicans on Wednesday for approving a new Congressional map that gives the GOP an opportunity to gain five additional House seats in next year's midterm elections. The map passed along party lines in an 88-52 vote. State senators are expected to consider the measure on Thursday for final approval before it heads to Gov. Greg Abbott's (R) desk. 'Tonight, Texas Republicans delivered Donald Trump the rigged map he demanded,' New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said, after the measure passed. 'Trump, Greg Abbott and their allies know they can't win on their record of stripping health care, tanking the economy and making families pay more with less.' 'This is a last gasp of a desperate party clinging to power,' she added. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) echoed her disdain, saying the mid-decade redistricting effort signaled a sign of weakness for Republicans and an attempt to regain strength ahead of the midterms. 'You only try changing the rules if you think you're losing — and that's exactly what Texas Republicans are attempting to do,' Newsom shared in a post on social platform X. 'We want to give Californians the power this November to counter redistricting power grabs and stand for independently drawn maps in every state,' he added. In a subsequent video message, Newsom offered the Texas GOP an 'off-ramp.' 'If they don't move. If Republicans stand back — they have an off ramp — this initiative, our efforts, don't go forward. We're doing this only in response to what he's doing,' he said. 'So if he doesn't want us to move forward, he has some capacity to influence that.' The governor added later, 'we should let voters choose their representatives.' The criticism comes after Texas Democrats, who fled the state to delay the vote, returned home following threats of arrest or involvement by the FBI, and as the state lawmakers racked up fines. Newsom and Hochul have both vowed to fight Texas's effort with similar proposals to restructure district lines in their respective states. Democrats in California released a proposed new map last week to offset the five seats the Lone Star State is poised to gain and has called for a special session in November to vote on the measure. Golden State Republicans pushed back on the effort, filing a petition to the state Supreme Court to halt the move, though their petition was rejected. Newsom has pressed his Democratic counterparts in New York and Illinois to move quickly on their redistricting efforts. 'In New York, we'll confront Trump's legal insurrection head on,' Hochul said Wednesday. 'We'll meet him on the same field and beat him at his own game.' Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) also weighed in on the effort, lauding his counterparts for creating plans to ensure what he called an equal balance of power. 'Democrats need to strike back,' Ossoff said during an appearance on MSNBC's 'The Weeknight.' 'We have no time or luxury for high-minded hesitation, because Trump and MAGA are going to do everything within their power to hold on and to lock in one party rule in America,' he continued. 'That's the reality that we face.'
