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Public Excluded by Heather Stout Lewiston Tribune, June 12, 2005

A few years back there was a public hearing on the possibility of breaching the dams on the lower Snake River at the Quality Inn in Clarkston. Individuals stood in line for hours, signed up to testify on a first-come, first-served basis and then watched as local politicians, Port of Lewiston experts and tribal members were paraded in and allowed to testify first. If you, as a member of the general public, had the patience and the stamina, you might have had the opportunity to speak at midnight.

Now the Honorable Butch Otter and the Honorable Cathy McMorris have set up another hearing in Clarkston to listen to special interest groups speak about dam breaching, but the public is not invited to speak. I am curious, when, if ever, will the general public be honored with an opportunity to speak on this issue?