The Peninsula Progressive

The damaging decisions made in Washington D.C. ripple through every classroom here in Clallam County. Just over a week ago, on March 14th, 2025, ten Democratic senators joined Republicans to pass a Continuing Resolution that betrayed core Democratic principles, placing critical funding for public education , healthcare, and vital social programs at risk. While these senators claim their votes prevented a government shutdown, their choice has jeopardized the future of our nation's most vulnerable—our students. In my previous post, "The March 14th Betrayal" , I outlined how this CR is already causing serious harm nationwide. Today, I want to focus specifically on the immediate and long-term threats these federal cuts pose to education in Washington State and right here in our Port Angeles classrooms. As an educator, union leader, and Democratic Party official, I see clearly what's at stake: decades of progress toward educational equity, vital support programs for stude...

As an educator, union leader, and Democratic Party official in Clallam County, I was profoundly disturbed by the events of March 14th, 2025. The United States Senate passed a deeply troubling Continuing Resolution (CR) with the support of ten Democratic senators siding with the Republican Party. These senators include: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York) Senator Dick Durbin (Illinois) Senator Angus King (Maine) (Independent who caucuses with Democrats) Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada) Senator John Fetterman (Pennsylvania) Senator Gary Peters (Michigan) Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (New York) Senator Brian Schatz (Hawaii) Senator Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire) Senator Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire) This vote represents not only a policy failure but a betrayal of the core values and principles that define our Democratic Party. National Perspective: The senators who supported the CR have argued that their vote was necessary to avoid a government shutdown , citi...