Selmann responds to Manweller

I was bemused by Professor Manweller's platform piece that ran in last week's editorials. It seemed like most of his platform was trying to discredit me. His attacks were far more revealing about him than they were about me. Either the Professor is a horrible listener, or he deliberately misconstrues facts to forward his objectives. Let me correct a few of his misstatements.

The water rights Manweller is apparently unaware of are the original rights granted to complete the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. There are roughly six million acre feet allotted for this project. Currently we have a net use of about 2.7 million, leaving over three million acre feet of water right in the Columbia River going unused, because the second half of the project, including the east high canal, was never constructed. This is not a contested water right, but you have to do a little research to know it exists and should be put to use. I don't expect Professor Manweller to know that; it isn't part of his skill-set.

He also miss-characterized my position on e-verify. I certainly know what it is, but don't have an ideological bent towards it one way or another. That is what happens when your opinions are based on the facts on the ground, as opposed to contorting facts to try to make them fit your position. In principle, l would support a system that employers can use to validate the eligibility of potential hires. It seems however, that unreliability and false positive identifications cause too many problems for mandatory implementation. When I don't have the facts, I don't let my ego get in the way and pretend like I do. I go ask local employers how the system affects them.

And yes, I am a moderate Democrat. Interestingly enough, both Republicans and Democrats are united in wanting water to come from their taps when turn them on. We have pressing local needs that need to be addressed, and that is what I'll go to Olympia to do. It's curious, I live out the conservative values of our district. I work hard, I'm faithful to my wife, but am accused of not sharing those values because I trust other people to make those decisions for themselves. Mr. Manweller gives "conservative values" lip service, but miserably fails to live them out in his own life. Your choice.

Kaj Selmann

Moses Lake