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WPC's Dubious Claims by Allen Roberts Spokesman-Review, June 27, 2021

I just read the article by Todd Myers of the Washington Policy Center (Environmental groups perfect art of scare tactics June 27) regarding, among other issues, the return of spring chinook on the Snake River. Cathy McMorris Rodgers put out the same information in a release to constituents on Wednesday of this week.

The congresswoman credited the University of Washington's Columbia Basin Project with the information. I searched the web and found no such information. She then posted the same information being put forth by the Washington Policy Center, the same organization and the same Todd Myers who wrote this piece in today's Spokesman Review.

A google check of the Washington Policy Center reveals it as a right-wing organization based in Seattle with ties to the Koch brothers via the American Legislative Exchange Council and the Heritage Foundation.

The statement regarding the spring chinook return on the Snake is dubious at best. It contradicts all scientific information being put forth by the Fish and Game departments of both Washington and Idaho. It would be a good thing if this is a factual fish return count, but I have my doubts. Rather, I feel it is a political statement led by an extreme right-wing organization to deceive the public into believing we don't have a crisis regarding salmon and other environmental issues being accelerated by climate change.

I have asked the congresswoman to send me a copy of the report from the University of Washington to which she referred.