Maria Cantwell clearly doesn’t understand Washington state. Oh, perhaps she has a handle on Seattle and its close surrounding area, but she couldn’t possibly understand what makes the rest of this state tick.

For most Washington residents and land owners, water rights are a big deal. They are also pretty complicated, so it might be understandable if your average city dweller didn’t quite grasp the implications of radically changing the system. But I would hope that a U.S. senator would take the time to find out. In fact, I think she has an obligation to find out.

Instead, Sen. Cantwell voted in favor of a farm bill that would have required – that’s right, required – farmers and other land owners to sell or rent their water rights back to local governments. Clearly, Sen. Cantwell couldn’t be bothered to represent our entire state.

Scott Jewett

Woodinville