Page 29 - Flathead Beacon // 2.19.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM OPINION
FEBRUARY 19, 2014 | 29

Trufle Infused
UNCOMMON GROUND Mike Jopek FREE

Climate Losses
Italian

Olive Oil
DFAT BIKE
AYTIME TEMPERATURES AT poured into New York City subways.
the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Congress won’t debate climate

Russia, reached 61 degrees. The change. But Congress funds big weather FEBRUARY
same day national news warned about a crop or property losses for some farmers
super storm at lower latitudes and 6,000 and homeowners.
miles away in Virginia. News said to pre- Last week, House Speaker John
pare for a “catastrophic event,” calling it Boehner scheduled a political fundrais- WE ofer authentic trule
a “beast of a storm.”
er with Rep. Vern Buchanan in Sarasota, infused Italian Olive oil, both
This month’s local climate rally was Fla. Waterfront homeowners in coastal black and white varieties. We
also ofer BLACK TRUFFLE
bitter cold in Whiteish while erratic areas like Florida were facing big insur-
heat waves pounded the Arctic.
ance premium hikes.
SALT - Italian sea salt with real
The New York Times reported that Bigger homes faced premium in- bits of black trule.
weather projections say many ski resorts
creases of tens of thousands of dol-
lars. FEMA announced that new PAIRING
1 free rental per
homeowner insurance rates
NEW
“CONGRESS WON’T
would be delayed two years.
person until the
Super storms Katrina and Mango white balsamic +
Olive Oil =
end of February*
DEBATE CLIMATE CHANGE.
Sandy changed the way insur- Fused Lemon
ance companies and banks look ABSOLUTELY
*Schedule your demo in advance as quantities are limited. BUT CONGRESS FUNDS
at weather risk. More mortgages CIOUS!
Must have bike back same day.
require costly lood insurance for DELI
commercial and residential poli-
SPRING BIG WEATHER CROP OR cies.
Obama is currently accepting

TUNE-UP
PROPERTY LOSSES FOR comments on his agency’s review
of the national pipeline proposed
SOME FARMERS.”
from the tar sands of Canada,
SPECIAL
through Montana and south.
The agency in part analyzed
‘Oro Bailen’ 2013 the greenhouse emissions of how
tar sands are transported. With
Reg. 59.99
would experience half as much snow Picual - Oro Bailen
little surprise oil transported by pipe-

during our kids’ lifetime. That poses an is amongst Spain’s inest line emits less greenhouse gasses than
* Now 39.99
economic impact to a $10 billion indus- producers of
the rail or vessels. The agency said pipe-
try employing hundreds of thousands of lines are safer than rail for transporting
people.
olive oil - their crude.
Last August Gov. Steve Bullock asked 2012 Picual was The number of crude loading and
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for of-loading rail facilities has exploded in DELUXE
weather-related damages from a super ranked #3 in the the past three years along the backbone
hail storm. Farmers growing crops like world!
and foothills of the nation by the Rocky TUNE-UP
wheat, potatoes and hay in the Gallatin Curious? Mountains.
Valley sufered crop losses from 40 to 80 Come taste!
Who knows what Obama decides
percent. Some had crop insurance.
on the pipeline? People twice elected SPECIAL
The state hail program paid out a re- him to make these kinds of decisions. Ultra P
cord 186 percent of premiums. Crop in- But Obama is seeking comments on his remium
surance claims exceeded $14 million in agencies’ analysis.
Montana. It was record hail damage.
Congress has done nothing to ad-
Reg. 79.99
Olive Oil is imported
The Farm Bill law funds $120 billion dress climate change but funds climat- directly
in crop protection over the decade. Pro- * Now 59.99
related losses. And with midterm elec- from the grower
jections for cotton crop insurance rise tions pending and control of Congress at
44 percent up to $466 million in 2023.
stake, expect little action.
President Barack Obama and Vilsack The pipeline decision is not about
launched seven “climate hubs” to help long-term jobs. Major road construc-
farmers cope with changing weather. ALL REMAINING tion or hiring teachers ofer more jobs.
The federal hubs will be located in rural The agency framed the pipeline analy-
2013 BIKES
communities in states like Colorado and sis about eiciently, pitting one mode of
Oregon.
ON SALE NOW!crude oil transport against the next. But
The USDA says the climate is chang- *
the political issue is about exporting tar
ing the growing season, pushing some sands.
crops further north. The agency says Few expect Obama to make the pipe-
the cost of drought was $50 billion over line decision this year. Any tar sands
three years and ire seasons are two pipeline now would likely disenfran-

months longer than last decade.
chise too many college-aged midterm
Farm Bill-funded climate losses are 406.730.1449
406.257.5808
voters who seek real conservation and
small in size compared to super storm more power from energy sources like
Sandy’s cost of $65 billion as salt water
wind, solar, hydro, or geothermal.
140 Lupfer Ave,
214 1st Ave. W • Kalispell, MT
Mike (Uncommon Ground) Jopek and Dave (Closing Range) Skinner often fall on op- Whiteish Monday-Friday 10-6 • Saturday 10-5
posite sides of the fence when it comes to political and outdoor issues. Their columns
www.genesis-kitchen.com
[email protected]
alternate each week in the Flathead Beacon.
*Valid through end of February, 2014