Author Archives: Laudan

Senate ag leaders say COVID vaccine mandate for 4-H volunteers serious blow to program

More and more people tangentially connected with state government are finding out that they are subject to Gov. Jay Inslee’s recently announced vaccine mandate – even 4-H volunteers.

In a letter sent to volunteers, the Washington State University Extension, which oversees the 4-H youth agricultural program, wrote that 4-H volunteer leaders must also be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 to continue to participate in any volunteer activities.

Agricultural leaders in the state Senate are worried what this policy will do to the program.

“It’s one thing for the state to mandate COVID vaccination requirements for state workers and education employees, but when this mandate is even imposed on 4-H volunteers, it makes you wonder where does this stop,” said Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “The end result could be fewer people volunteering in 4-H, which would hurt the kids who participate, and it will ultimately hurt Washington agriculture.”

4-H is a more-than-century-old youth development nonprofit that provides programs focusing on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), in addition to civic engagement and agriculture. The organization relies heavily on community volunteers, and the latest requirements could mean a sharp decrease in participation, a serious blow to the popular program.

“I’m hearing a great deal of concern from 4-H leaders around my district. Like other problems many businesses are seeing with hiring staff, this mandate will make it harder for this program to run effectively,” said Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “Much of this program is conducted outside where safety protocols can be implemented without trampling on people’s conscience or medical decisions.”

The focus on youth during this time is greatly needed, says state Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside. “4-H is a valuable experience for young people already suffering setbacks from isolation and mental health challenges due to how the state has handled the pandemic. We shouldn’t be putting more obstacles in the way to their success,” Honeyford said.

While other states are working to boost vaccinations among their workforces, Washington remains an outlier with its heavy-handed approach.

“Our 4-H leaders have gone above and beyond to provide a safe environment for our kids during these unprecedented times and I have no doubt that they will continue to do so,” said Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy. “We have seen that Oregon and California have provided alternatives to vaccine mandates; we should do that here! This mandate ignores individual choice, and I am concerned that we will lose valuable volunteers because of it. Our young people have suffered immeasurably during the last 18 months. Losing their 4-H leaders will only add to their burden.”

E. Washington senators oppose flurry of tax and fee hikes passed by Legislature

Four Republican state senators from eastern Washington – 8th District Sen. Sharon Brown, 16^th District Sen. Perry Dozier, 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler and 13th District Sen. Judy Warnick – were among legislators who opposed three bills creating or raising taxes or fees that were passed during the Legislature’s final weekend of its scheduled regular session.

Brown, Dozier, Schoesler and Warnick voted against:

Senate Bill 5126, which would impose a “carbon cap and tax” that would sharply raise gas and diesel prices. The Senate yesterday voted 27-22 to agree with House changes to the bill, sending it to Gov. Inslee, who requested the environmental legislation.
House Bill 1277, which would create an additional $100 surcharge that must be collected by a county auditor for about 80 different recorded documents, with some exceptions. The Senate passed the bill 26-23 yesterday, and the House afterward voted 57-39 to approve the Senate’s amendments to it.

House Bill 1477, which would impose a tax on radio access lines, voice-over Internet protocol service lines, and switched access lines to fund activities related to an enhanced crisis response. The “cell phone tax” in HB 1477 calls for a 24-cent tax per month per phone line through December 2022, and a 40-cent tax per line starting Jan. 1, 2023. After a House-Senate conference committee met to resolve differences between the two chambers, the Senate passed the compromise version of the bill 27-22, and the House followed with a 71-25 vote to approve the proposal.

Senate Bill 5126

Under this bill, starting in 2023, businesses producing more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon per year would be required to purchase “allowances” for emissions at auctions arranged by the Department of Ecology. End-user consumption would be included in emissions calculations, meaning refiners would be held responsible for tailpipe emissions. Money from these auctions would go to the state, and would be split between CO2 reduction programs and a transportation-related account called “Forward Flexible.” The price of allowances would grow over time until the state meets arbitrary emissions targets – 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and “net zero” emissions by 2050. The program’s details would be handled by the Department of Ecology. The program is expected to raise about $500 million annually.

Republicans said SB 5126 could cause fuel prices to rise by as much as $2.41 a gallon, based on recent report.

“This is another bill that would punish people and companies by sharply raising gas and diesel prices, without a guarantee that our roads and highways will benefit, and no proof of even helping the climate,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “The bill is called the Climate Commitment Act, but the only thing it will commit Washingtonians to is handing over more of their hard-earned money for an environmental plan that won’t work.”

Brown also took aim at the “Cap-and-Tax” bill, which she called extremely regressive and harmful to Washington families.

“There has been a lot of talk of equity from members of the majority this session, but they have not walked the walk,” said Brown, R-Kennewick, who serves as the Senate Republican Deputy Leader. “In my district, some of the best-paying, living-wage jobs for pipe-fitters, carpenters and other blue-collar workers are out in the furthest parts of the Hanford area. That’s an approximately 20-30-minute drive from many of our communities. The only options workers have to reach that area is to drive.

“Cap-and-Tax not only makes it harder for them to pay for gas to get to good-paying jobs, it also makes every item they need to provide for their families – from groceries to clothing – more expensive.

“If the majority really cared about equity and economic mobility, they would have never pushed this regressive tax that hurts the underprivileged and our working families the most.”

Dozier, a wheat farmer, said the “cap and tax” bill also would have a negative impact on Washington agriculture and would hurt the state’s economic competitiveness.

“This legislation all but ensures that family farms will no longer be able to operate in Washington state,” said Dozier, R-Waitsburg. “We’ll just see larger farms — not the little guy. Why would future generations want to be farmers? There are already so many barriers to farming that currently exist, this just continues to add unbearable costs that many won’t be able to afford.”

Warnick, who serves as the ranking member on the Senate’s agricultural committee, echoed Dozier’s sentiments.

“Ag producers have already had a target on them with all kinds of excessive regulations and fees. These kinds of proposals are just piling on,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “Legislation that has passed to supposedly help the environment, won’t even come close to doing for our farmers what they are doing for us when it comes to being a good steward of our natural resources and the environment.”

House Bill 1277

The four eastern Washington legislators criticized the bill for creating an expensive fee just for recording a wide range of documents at a county auditor’s office.

“It’s stunning that the Democrats think it’s no big deal to increase a recording fee by $100. This is just another example of Democrats showing that they have no bounds when it comes to raising taxes and fees on hard-working people in our state,” said Schoesler.

House Bill 1477

In 2018, Congress passed the “National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act,” which required the FCC to study the feasibility of a three-digit code. In August 2019, the FCC recommended “988” as the code. And in July 2020, the FCC issued a rule to require all telecom providers to route “988” to the 10-digit lifeline by July 16, 2022. The result is the creation of a new three-digit line (988) that will route people to the current infrastructure (and phone number) of the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Telecom companies are required to have the routing in place by July 2022. States can – but are not required to – levy fees on phone service. Fees raised must go to call centers answering 988 or other activities such as mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization units, and follow up calls.

In addition to imposing a “cell phone tax,” HB 1477 would require the Department of Health and Health Care Authority to collaborate to establish state crisis call center hubs and an enhanced crisis response system to prepare for implementation of the 988 crisis hotline.

“Our state’s wireless consumers already pay 29 percent of their bills in government taxes and fees, the third highest government tax and fee burden in this country. This new ‘cell phone tax’ likely will make Washington’s wireless consumers pay the most in government taxes and fees,” said Schoesler.

The 105-day legislative session ended today.

13th District lawmakers support strong state capital investments

With just one day left in the 2021 legislative session, 13th District legislators gave their approval to a new two-year spending plan for capital projects around the state. Sen. Judy Warnick and Representatives Tom Dent and Alex Ybarra worked together to garner nearly $10 million in critical community projects for the 4-county district, in addition to over $80 million in other infrastructure improvements for schools, parks, and environmental projects.

For several years, Warnick had previously served as a lead Capital Budget negotiator in the Senate. While no longer in that role, she remains on the broader budget committee that oversees fiscal matters. Along with Dent and Ybarra, the 13th District team worked hard to ensure the region’s priorities were met.

“The state’s capital budget is an opportunity for us to invest in projects that are critical to our communities,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “There is a lot of demand but only so many resources, so it can be a challenge to prioritize. However, this budget gets it right. The nearly $2 million for the facilities at our community food bank are desperately needed to serve our low-income neighbors, particularly as we are still reeling from the economic impacts of COVID shutdowns.”

The total $6 billion budget includes an historic $413 million investment in broadband internet access around the state, including $258,000 for an agriculture pilot project in the 13th District. Nearly $1 billion is being allocated to K-12 and early education with significant funding for small schools and early learning centers.

“For communities in the 13th District, this budget isn’t simply about reopening and recovery, it’s about long-term renewal,” said Ybarra, R-Quincy. “Strategic investments today mean jobs and a better quality of life tomorrow. That’s what makes this budget exciting news. A wide-range of projects including a healthcare services in Kittitas, public building improvements, like the library in Ephrata, and even a business incubator in Moses Lake, mean generations of residents will benefit from these choices.”

Additional community projects include:

$193,000 for water efficiency improvements in Royal City;
$784,000 to improve the Upper Kittitas County Medic One – Station 99; and
$621,000 in upgrades for the Ephrata Recreation Center.

“This spending plan does a great job of balancing what is needed and addressing priorities in all corners of our state while making local investments that benefit the 13th District,” said Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake. “In our region it funds much-needed community projects and infrastructure improvements related to schools, water, and forest health. I am pleased we were able to pass such a strong bipartisan budget at such a critical time for our economy.”

A complete list of 13th District projects can be found online here.

Expanded protections for volunteer firefighters under Warnick bill

Under a new law, volunteer firefighters will see additional workplace protections.

State Sen. Judy Warnick sponsored Senate Bill 5384, which was signed by the governor late last week and makes a small but significant change to how these public servants are defined in the Industrial Welfare Act.

Warnick said lessons learned in last year’s wildfire season necessitated the update.

“We had a situation where trained volunteers were worried about their actual jobs and whether they could leave to help their community,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “Restrictions by employers during these emergencies needed to be addressed and allow for greater flexibility for volunteer firefighters who serve a valuable role in our communities.”

The bill contains an emergency clause, which means it goes into effect immediately. Instead of rigid qualifications determining status of a volunteer firefighter, Warnick’s changes streamlines the definition to protect volunteers from retaliation or fear of losing their regular employment.

“The statute didn’t fit the needs of our communities,” Warnick said. “I think we struck a good balance between employers and employees who are volunteering in this critical capacity. This clarification will go a long way in better serving communities around the state that rely on these extraordinary individuals.”

Gov. Jay Inslee signed Warnick’s bill into law April 16.

Warnick fights for better budget, funding for healthcare access

On Thursday, the state Senate approved its version of a nearly $60 billion operating budget for the next two years. Crafted by majority Democrats, Senate Bill 5092 was passed along party lines after numerous amendments offered by Senate Republicans failed to be passed, including efforts to curb emergency executive powers and broader changes to the Democrats’ proposed massive tax and spending hikes.

The Democratic budget would increase state spending by $7 billion from the previous biennial budget and would rely on a new type of state income tax, carbon taxes and a “cap-and-trade” scheme. Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, offered an amendment that would have boosted funding rates for two central Washington hospitals. Although Warnick’s proposal is projected to save the state more than $47 million, the majority did not accept the amendment.

“I’m deeply disappointed that at a time when the state has plenty of money, we could not provide this needed investment in rural health care,” Warnick said. “We saw how vulnerable rural parts of our state were at the height of COVID and the impact it had on diverse populations they serve. This investment is needed. I’ll continue to fight for a state budget that uses our resources wisely.”

Senate Republicans offered a floor striking amendment to the proposed budget that represents a stark alternative for the state’s spending priorities. Highlights from the Republican proposal include:

Preserving the state’s rainy-day fund;
Property tax relief and reductions in manufacturing taxes;
Fully funding the Working Families Tax Credit; and
Providing $1 billion in unemployment assistance.

The proposal supported by Warnick includes no cuts to state services and no tax increases.

“Washington has been fortunate enough to weather the economic effects of COVID-related shutdowns,” said Warnick. “With billions in federal funds coming and strong revenue collections, we can make prudent investments for the people without taxes. Not adopting our proposal is a real missed opportunity to take a better path for Washington.”

Budget writers from the Senate and House of Representatives will soon begin negotiations to reach agreement on a final operating budget plan by the scheduled end of the 105-day session on April 25.

Warnick opposes new state income tax, fights for ag-industry exemption

In an early-Saturday evening vote, the state Senate Democratic majority approved Senate Bill 5096, which would create a capital gains income tax in Washington state, by a vote of 25-24. State Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, offered an amendment that was not adopted that would have explicitly protected certain agricultural activities from the new 7 percent tax on capital gains.

“Proponents of this bill have said that it only affects a small number of Washingtonians, many of whom live in a few districts in King County. I heard from my colleagues that they want this. Nothing is stopping them from sending a check to the Department of Revenue,” Warnick said. “What this is really about is an ideological crusade to get a personal income tax on everyone in our state.”

Warnick lamented the rejection of several amendments offered by Senate Republicans that would have incentivized keeping more money in communities and protecting small businesses.

“This is just bad policy when our state’s budget is in such good condition. We don’t have a revenue problem and arguments for this as a way to make our system fairer are extremely biased and a bit disingenuous,” Warnick added. “All this does is create another tax. We could have done something to actually lower taxes for those in need, but the majority opted not to.”

One amendment that Warnick supported would have removed the state sales tax on prepared food and clothing.

“If we are concerned about how taxes are affecting working families, we missed an opportunity to fix that. While the rhetoric is about making the extremely wealthy pay more, this will have an impact on small businesses around the state,” she said.

“Legislators have been trying to impose a graduated income tax for 86 years – before anyone in the Senate was even born,” Warnick admonished. “Voters have rejected it 10 times and we need to listen to them. The last time this issue was on the ballot, 44 of 49 legislative districts voted overwhelmingly to oppose a state income tax.”

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Senate unanimously approves Warnick bill to boost local meat production

As the COVID-19 outbreak spread in Washington, toilet paper wasn’t the only commodity in short supply. Consumers may recall that the butcher’s block was increasingly scarce, and prices were climbing. Estimates are that meat production, particularly of beef and pork, dropped by 30 percent.

To protect the state’s food supply and give consumers more options, state Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, sponsored Senate Bill 5045, which the Senate approved today.

“The way that COVID impacted our meat packing and processing industry highlighted a need to reform how they are regulated at a state level,” said Warnick. “We need to be more innovative and bring this oversight into the state’s control to avoid problems in the future. If we do it right, it will mean more opportunity for smaller producers and more local options for consumers.”

Industry-watchers have been calling for a shakeup of the archaic federal regulatory environment that has unintentionally limited competition and supply of meat products. Under Warnick’s proposal, small and mid-sized meat producers would be eligible for support from a newly created Processing and Marketing Assistance Program. The bill also would require the state Department of Agriculture to work with federal counterparts to develop a cooperative agreement in operating a state meat-inspection program.

“This is somewhat new territory for local producers, but it is the right move,” Warnick said. “Delays in processing are bad for consumers and our ranchers. If we can take some of the pressure off the current system by encouraging state inspections and local support of smaller processors of meat and poultry, we are going to drastically improve the industry.”

Warnick’s proposal includes establishing a grant program administered by the Conservation Commission to provide funding for increased access to the meat and poultry processing and inspection opportunities. WSDA will also be encouraged to work with Washington State University to develop technical support programs for training in the industry and business practices.

The measure now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration after unanimous approval in the Senate.

Update from Olympia

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

We are fast approaching the halfway point of the 2021 legislative session. There have been some challenges conducting business as usual for the Legislature during this unusual time in our lives. The governor’s decision to close off a large portion of the Capitol grounds to the public is concerning, as are his ever-changing metrics and policies when it comes to reopening our state.

I’m very pleased that all parts of our state have been able to move to Phase 2 of the latest reopening plan. My 13th District seatmates and I had been critical of moves that opened urban areas sooner and pushed back to ensure that decisions in Olympia take into consideration the good work we’ve done in rural parts of the state.

Having been shut out of the policy-making process for the better part of 12 months, it’s past time for the Legislature to weigh in on these decisions. While some of the governor’s proclamations are good in the sense that they’ve cut bureaucratic red tape or waived fees, it is our job to represent the people in an open and transparent manner through the legislative process.

Affordable Housing for Rural Washington

In the Legislature, I am working to bridge the divide, fighting for the needs of rural Washington. I wanted to highlight some of the positive work I’m doing for our communities.

Affordable housing continues to be a focal point for the Legislature. Although some high-profile policies, such as reforms to the housing provider-tenant law, have recently been approved, there is still work needed to fix disparities between rural and urban development.

That is why I sponsored legislation that will help bridge the gaps. We need serious reform of our state’s land-use planning laws and must fix where our dollars are being spent. My proposal, Senate Bill 5375, will help rural communities be competitive when it comes to affordable housing investment. The bill is waiting for a vote in the Senate.

Income Tax by Another Name

Washington state’s economy is in good shape. Despite dismal projections last year as a result of the pandemic, we have rebounded. The state’s budget is still anticipated to grow by nearly 6 percent with no more taxes. However, that is not stopping the majority from pushing for more, especially their long-awaited income tax that is framed as an ‘excise tax.’ Senate Bill 5096 would impose an income tax on capital gains, which, as you can see from this recent survey, shows strong public opposition. In that same survey, it appears Washingtonians are more concerned about getting back to work and protecting our state’s fragile economy than seeing how much more money the government can take in from volatile tax schemes. I’m fighting against this proposal because I believe we do not need more taxes, especially now. You can read more from that survey by clicking here.

Standing up for Principles of Equality

Our district is very diverse and I’m proud to represent those views and backgrounds in Olympia. This legislative session the majority is very focused on a buzzword, equity. A lot of bills are focusing on that concept, but I believe not in a helpful or principled way that will actually address issues that different groups may face in our state. That is why I’m happy to be working with some of my Senate Republican colleagues on a new initiative that is in the works to approach these discussions from a principled, conservative angle, standing true to principles of our party and country’s promise of equality and opportunity for all. We aren’t looking at more government programs, we are looking at ways to empower communities to thrive and get government out of the way of the American Dream. I’ll be sure to update you as this progresses.

Warnick bill to study rural housing needs receives Senate hearing

Addressing housing supply and costs continues to be a focal point for the Legislature. Although high-profile policies, such as reforms to housing provider-tenant law have recently been approved, there is still work needed to fix disparities between rural and urban development.

State Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, has sponsored bipartisan legislation that would uncover problems in state investment, Senate Bill 5375. The proposal would require the nonpartisan Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) to find gaps and deliver a report to lawmakers by next year. A public hearing on the bill occurred today.

“There are a lot of tools we have at our disposal and this powerful one will show in a data-driven way what I believe are barriers to addressing housing costs in rural Washington,” said Warnick, who sits on the Senate’s housing-related committee. “We need serious reform of our state’s land-use planning laws and must fix where our dollars are being spent.”

Under Warnick’s legislation, JLARC would review:

the amount of publicly subsidized low-income housing developed in urban and rural counties between 2010 and 2020 compared to the demographics and populations of such counties;
any contributing factors that may impact differences in the amount of development in urban and rural counties; and
what funding sources have been provided to low-income housing projects built in urban and rural counties.

“Affordable housing is not just a problem in urban and suburban areas in western Washington. We have a real need in the communities I represent,” Warnick said. “I’m hopeful that this study will highlight those challenges for my colleagues so that we can ensure rural Washington gets the resources it needs when it comes to state investment in housing.”