Pakootas Has Wide Experience

Dear Editor,

We can do better in the 5th Congressional District by electing Joe Pakootas and retiring the incumbent, Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

Joe Pakootas' record is proof that he gets things done and has wide experience and certifiable successes. Cathy McMorris Rodgers has been a career politician. Joe Pakootas has 16 years experience in leadership in the Colville Tribe. As CEO of the Tribe's corporation he led a 10 million dollar turnaround in the Tribes' finances. He and his wife have owned a small business since 1985. Joe and another tribal member personally sued the Canadian mining company Teck Cominco for polluting Lake Roosevelt with mercury, arsenic, lead, copper, cadmium and zinc. The suit was eventually successful.

Personally, Joe and his wife coach eight sports between them and Joe mentors Reservation youth. Joe and his wife Cheryl have four children.

McMorris Rodgers does not have a moderate voting record, voting virtually100% of the time with the extreme right wing of the Republican Party. You would think she is at least strong on women's rights. You would be incorrect in thinking that.

For years she voted against VAWA (The violence Against Women Act). McMorris Rodgers finally voted for VAWA, but for the version which excludes LGBT, Native American and undocumented Latina women. Don't these women bleed or feel pain? On the matter of equal pay for women she has voted for years against the Lilly Ledbetter Act, the only legislation for fair pay on the books.

We need Joe Pakootas to push for things that matter for people in the 5th Congressional District, things McMorris Rodgers votes against like: easing student loan debt, a credit card bill of rights, Wall Street reform, full funding of veteran's programs, equal pay for women, maintaining or expanding Social Security and Medicare (The Ryan budget would privatize Social Security and turn Medicare into a voucher system).

It's obvious that Joe Pakootas' record of accomplishments shows he is a hard worker who keeps his shoulder to the wheel. The incumbent, on the other hand, has missed 92% of her committee meetings. Please cast your vote for Joe Pakootas. We can do better. Norm Osterman Walla Walla