Articles written by don brunell
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Rare Earth metal dilemma
Hopefully, when American and Chinese leaders meet to resolve trade differences, talks won’t break down and result in a new round of tariffs or product restrictions. It is in both n... — Updated 6/26/2019
Removing Snake River dams is unwise
There are dams that should come down and those that shouldn’t. Hopefully, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducts its review of the 14 federal dams on the Columbia and Snake r... — Updated 5/22/2019
Lawmakers need to re-examine budget before adjourning
Before lawmakers wrap up their work in Olympia, they should re-examine their hefty new state spending plan. The budget may not be sustainable, even with a substantial increase in ta... — Updated 4/10/2019
Washington farmers need tariff relief
The good news is Washington’s cherry crop is projected to be as good as 2018; however, absent tariff relief from the ongoing U.S.-China trade tiff, a key market will remain l... — Updated 1/30/2019
Health care is top of mind
When Congress convenes next year, lawmakers must focus on the cost and quality of health care. In November, voters made it clear health care was on top of their minds. According to... — Updated 12/5/2018
Costs matter in hiring
While both sides argue over the merits of Seattle’s escalating minimum wage, there are other issues, such as the total cost per worker, which enter into hiring equations. When e... — Updated 11/14/2018
The Russians are indeed coming
In the 1960s, there was a popular movie called “The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming.” The plot was that a Soviet naval commander runs his sub aground off a Mas... — Updated 10/3/2018
Lampson beating odds for family-owned businesses
When one approaches the Tri-Cities, it is impossible to ignore Lampson International’s monstrous cranes in its Pasco assembly yard. Those gantries stand out like the Space Needle in Seattle and reach over 560 feet into the sky. Lik... — Updated 9/14/2018
A much-needed dose of Yogi Berra's wit and wisdom
With today’s tension and rancor, we need a dose of Yogi Berra’s wit and wisdom to put things into perspective. Let’s start with “You can observe a lot by just watching,” because s... — Updated 9/5/2018
Trade wars hit state's cherry growers hard
Last April, Washington wheat, apple and cherry growers hoped U.S. and China trade negotiators would resolve differences and prevent imposition of damaging tariffs on our state’s l... — Updated 8/29/2018
Columbia River Treaty talks too vital to ignore
While most of our attention in the Pacific Northwest these days is on trade wars, tariffs and wildfires, there are critical talks underway between the U.S. and Canada over future... — Updated 8/22/2018
GE's tumble from grace
Last month, General Electric lost its place among our nation’s top 30 performing corporations. It was the last member of the original companies which composed the Dow Jones I... — Updated 7/18/2018
Jetsons cartoon robots now reality
The Jetsons television series about a space-age family featuring “Rosey the Robot” gave us a preview of life with robots, kiosks and interactive television. In 1962, it was a fictit... — Updated 7/3/2018
Straw pulp looks like win-win
Here’s a switch! Rather than closing another pulp and paper mill, a new one is under construction right here in Washington. Columbia Pulp’s plant on the Snake River will use a new... — Updated 6/6/2018
Bumper car therapy
Over the last 35 years our family has vacationed at the same place on the beach. While the buildings have been refurbished, the complex remains largely unchanged. However, our entertainment has changed a lot. We still swim, jump... — Updated 7/20/2016 Full story
Made in America
In the presidential campaign leading up to the November elections, hopefully we will hear about ways to “Make America Great Again!” One of the most effective strategies is to entice U.S. companies with foreign factories to rel... — Updated 7/6/2016 Full story
Stay-at-home millennials
Today, more millennials are moving back home, even though the economy is improving and wages are inching upward. Recently, Pew Research Center revealed that a third of young adults today are more likely to live with their parents... — Updated 6/1/2016 Full story
Tips for safe Memorial Day trip
The good news this Memorial Day weekend is more than 38 million Americans are expected to travel, making the unofficial kickoff to summer this year the second busiest on record. AAA reports nearly 34 million people across the... — Updated 5/25/2016 Full story
Kirk Adams taking his skills to the Big Apple
Kirk Adams has earned the reputation as a visionary leader who gets things done for people with disabilities. Those qualities, coupled with hard work and determination, rewarded... — Updated 4/27/2016 Full story
President Obama's proliferation of new regulations
Even though President Barack Obama has less than a year remaining in office, his administration is cranking out new government regulations at a record pace. The rush reflects the President’s plan to use his final months to c... — Updated 4/20/2016 Full story
Cost of Boeing airplanes at heart of job cuts
Boeing’s new cost-reduction plan has deep ramifications for Washington because the bulk of the 4,500 job cuts are likely to land here. CEO Dennis Muilenburg asked investors to v... — Updated 4/6/2016 Full story
Boeing has quite a lot riding on 737 MAX
When Boeing rolled out its first 737 MAX last month, there was little fanfare. Nevertheless, its importance to the company’s future and our state can’t be overstated. The good news is Boeing delivered more airplanes last year tha... — Updated 1/13/2016 Full story
Wreaths for every American in uniform
On Dec. 12, Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke patiently waited two hours in line with 70,000 volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery to collect wreaths and secure them to headstones. Thousands of others across our nation joined... — Updated 12/21/2015 Full story
Apply Navy's nuclear technology to civilian use
Today, many elected officials are fixated on tearing down coal-fired power plants and replacing them with solar and wind farms. But that isn’t practical, because when there is no wind or sunlight, those plants produce no e... — Updated 11/9/2015 Full story
Changes to Obamacare are coming
Maybe there is finally something Democrats and Republicans can agree on — fixing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare. From the day it was signed into law in 2010, Republicans have tried unsuccessfully to r... — Updated 10/28/2015 Full story
