Political: Birthday speakers dishonor Maggie

Washington’s legendary Senator Warren Magnuson’s 100th birthday will be celebrated this year by environmental groups: People for Puget Sound, Magnuson Puget Sound Legacy Campaign and private receptions. They will be honoring Magnuson’s work preventing oil spills in the Puget Sound and protecting marine life.

In 1974, Magnuson began his crusade to declare Puget Sound a sanctuary for orcas — killer whales — and marine mammals. His Marine Mammal Protection Act banned big tankers from waters east of Port Angeles, and his Puget Sound Tanker Safety Act of 1989 required that tankers entering the Puget Sound have double hulls.

In light of the causes Maggie fought for, it is a travesty to invite Senators Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Dan Inouye (D-Hawaii) to speak at a dinner in his honor. But that’s what hosts of a fund-raising dinner for the University of Washington Libraries have done.

Stevens has worked for the oil industry for three decades and knows how to sail away from environmental protection laws. Columnist Joel Connelly calls Inouye “Judas Iscariot” for Inouye’s vote last week to allow oil drilling in the ANWAR. Inouye was one of three Democrats who broke ranks, permitting the bill to squeak by with a vote of 51-49.

Who are these people who dishonor Maggie’s memory by inviting speakers who would reverse his legacy?

Trudy Sundberg

Oak Harbor

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