Author Archives: Laudan

Warnick bill would ‘beef up’ state’s cattle industry

On Tuesday evening the state Senate approved legislation from Sen. Judy Warnick that would help promote the state’s beef industry. Senate Bill 5793, also known as the “Beef Check Off,” would make changes to the per-head assessment for the Washington Beef Commission and generate more funding to expand markets. The measure was approved by a vote of 30 to 19 and goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“The main source of funding for the state Beef Commission is a per-head assessment on cattle. This bill increases that assessment for a good reason,” stated Warnick. “The commission provides valuable services for our cattlemen and this legislation will help promote our beef industry during what are challenging times.”

The bill would require that the commission report to the Legislature on how the funds are used to support this critical economic sector. According to the Beef Commission, the industry as a whole contributes over $5 billion to Washington’s economy.

“In recent years, the beef industry has had some hard times, and the commission’s work is critical to promote this cornerstone of the state’s economy,” added Warnick.

The more money in taxpayers pockets, the better’ says Warnick after attempt to ban state income tax

The state Senate’s Democrat minority today blocked a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban a tax on individual incomes.

All 25 members of the Senate majority supported the measure, joined by two members of the Senate’s Democrat minority.  However, Senate Joint Resolution 8204 required a two-thirds majority to pass, or 33 votes of the 49-member Senate, meaning it fell short due to a lack of Democrat support.

Had the measure been approved, the state House of Representatives would also need to approve the measure by a two-thirds vote for it to go to voters in November. Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, issued the following statement after the vote.

“I am fighting to protect the will of the voters. Since the 1930s, Washingtonians have said repeatedly that the state should not have an income tax, and this resolution would have enshrined that in our state’s constitution. I believe it is a necessary measure to prevent special-interest groups from finding ways, as they have tried in Olympia and are now proposing in Seattle, from taking more taxpayer funds for pet projects.

“State spending has nearly doubled since the start of this century, yet the state’s population has only increased by 20 percent. That means that we are spending more and getting less. The push for more revenue is unwarranted and detrimental to our state’s economy as a whole and for families who would be hit hard by a tax on their income.

“The more money the taxpayers have in their pockets, the better. State government doesn’t need another revenue source that would allow endless spending, and reverse progress the Senate majority has made in prioritizing education and jobs – the real priorities of state government.”

Local wineries would get a boost from Warnick legislation

Senate approves measure to increase number of tasting rooms

The state Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick that would expand the number of tasting rooms small wineries can operate from two to four. Senate Bill 5426 was approved overwhelmingly, 44 to 5, and goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“We have many small wineries that are in need of this kind of support,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “This is a good small-business bill to help a growing industry thrive.”

The Liquor and Cannabis Board, which heavily regulates the industry, limits the number of tasting rooms a winery may operate separate from its manufacturing site, and must still approve any additional tasting rooms.

Warnick added, “It can be hard for small business to compete with large retailers; this legislation allows small wineries to get their products to consumers in an innovative and practical way.”

 

13th District lawmakers to host telephone town hall March 13

Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, and Reps. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg, and Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, are holding an hour-long telephone town hall on Monday, March 13, at 6 p.m. The program is similar to a call-in radio show in which people may call and ask questions over the telephone and participate in surveys.

To participate, residents can call (509) 941-2750 during the event. If listeners have questions during the call, they can press the star (*) key on their telephone keypads.

For more information about the telephone town hall, residents can contact:

Sen. Warnick at (360) 786-7624 or judy.warnick@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Manweller at (360) 786-7808 or matt.manweller@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Dent at (360) 786-7932 or tom.dent@leg.wa.gov

The 13th Legislative District includes Kittitas and Lincoln counties, most of Grant and a part of Yakima County.

For more information about Sen. Warnick, visit:
www.judywarnick.src.wastateleg.org

For more information about Rep. Manweller, visit:
www.representativemattmanweller.com

For more information about Rep. Dent, visit:
www.representativetomdent.com

Senate approves Warnick bill to encourage agricultural conservation

Sen. Judy Warnick’s legislation to promote agricultural conservation, Senate Bill 5010, was approved by the Senate Tuesday evening. The bill would protect irrigators’ water rights from relinquishment if the water allotment was not fully used due to conservation or efficiency efforts. The Senate approved the legislation 27 to 22 through a mainly party-line vote.

“The current system favors a ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ approach that could lead to wasting our valuable water resources,” said Warnick, who chairs the Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade and Economic Development Committee. “This legislation would reward agricultural water users for their conservation efforts without the risk of losing their unused water rights.”

There are other exemptions for water-rights relinquishment, but none aimed at conservation or efficiency.

“Our agricultural producers are good stewards of our state’s natural resources, and this would give them another tool to be a leader in those efforts,” added Warnick

Warnick legislation to fix flawed Hirst water decision clears Senate

 

Sen. Judy Warnick’s legislation to fix the Hirst decision was approved Tuesday evening by the state Senate, despite efforts by some opposition Democrats to delay a legislative response that would aid rural homeowners. The decision, issued by the state Supreme Court in late 2016, effectively prevents the drilling of small, household wells without costly studies that must be done before a building permit is issued. Senate Bill 5239, The bill was approved 28 to 21 and now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

On the Senate floor, Warnick, who chairs the Senate’s water-related committee, read from the high court’s dissenting opinion: “The practical result of this holding is to stop counties from granting building permits that rely on permit-exempt wells. Not only is this contrary to the clear legislative purpose of RCW 19.27.097, it potentially puts counties at odds with the Department of Ecology and imposes impossible burdens on landowners.”

The Hirst decision effectively halts development in many of Washington’s 39 counties, hitting rural areas the hardest. It would have a chilling effect on rural economic development by requiring local governments to make legal determinations of water availability – work already done by the state Department of Ecology – and sets up a situation where local jurisdictions and the state could be at odds issuing permits for small, household wells.

“During the committee hearing, we had everyday people pleading with us to fix this issue,” Warnick said. “I am confident that this is the right path forward. We have worked with stakeholders, reviewed our state’s water-law history and brought forth this legislation as a good-faith solution for the people in our state who are suffering because of this court decision.”

“Not fixing this flawed decision means hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of lost economic activity for our state and potentially the loss of a person’s life savings,” said Warnick. “Local jurisdictions are looking to us for clarity and guidance and this bill provides that.”

“This bill is not just about wells or water law. It is about people and the significant and negative impact this decision has had on their property and future,” Warnick added.

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Warnick bill would grant new protections for state’s cattle industry

Sen. Judy Warnick’s legislation to have air-quality rules treat cattle feedlots the same as other agricultural operations was approved today by the state Senate.

Agricultural operations are exempt from state clean-air rules; Warnick’s Senate Bill 5196 would extend the exemption to feedlots while establishing a process and guidelines for addressing activities that may be detrimental to the environment.

“I think this is a good compromise bill which balances the rights of our cattle producers with environmental concerns, although I am disappointed with the final vote,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake, who chairs the Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade and Economic Development Committee. “Other agricultural activities are exempt from these kinds of regulations, so this adjustment to state law makes sense. We are still ensuring best practices to keep our environment clean and providing a transparent process when a violation occurs. I wish we would have seen more bipartisan support for this common sense legislation.”

Cattle operations are still required to adhere to state Department of Ecology rules regarding dust control. The legislation would require that violations be clearly documented with evidence, setting a higher bar than current practice.

“In some areas of our state, raising cattle is a dusty business, but we know that impacts are temporary,” said Warnick. “If there are serious violations, then we want to deal with them, but this bill would provide for increased protections for our well-meaning cattle-industry partners.”

The bill was approved by a vote of 30-19 and now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.