Congressman Jay Inslee stopped by last night’s Kirkland City Council meeting and had some interesting thoughts to share with The Council and the audience. Promoting sustainability  and pedestrian friendly areas were high on his list. He had kudos for the City of Kirkland with regard to these issues.

The Congressman is working towards a clean energy economy for the nation.  Hes sees technology creating a revolution in energy and decarbonized energy as an important source in our future.  He sited a Northwest pioneering company who is combining energy with technology.  Sapphire Energy on Bainbridge Island is working with algae, sunlight and carbon dioxide to create a renewable energy source.     He applauded the company’s efforts to change our energy sources.

Congressman Inslee recognized many people are going through hard times, but in talking with his peers from all over the country, the Kirkland area is in a much stronger position than most.  Issues facing us here are difficult, but not nearly as daunting as parts of the Midwest. 

Council member Jessica Greenway asked Congressman Inslee not to forget those in Kirkland who still are in need.

 The country’s  problems, according to the Congressman, are three fold:

• The cost of the war in Iraq
• The tax cuts implemnted by the Bush administration earlier in the decade.
• Baby boomers tapping into social security

This “triple whammy” has created huge financial burdens affecting the services offered to those in need all over the nation.  Congressman Inslee stated two of the above issues will need to change in order for the country to be fiscally sound. The Congressman is looking forward to next year when we have a fresh start with a new administration.