Author Archives: Laudan

Warnick urges easing COVID restrictions for physical activities

As the science related to COVID-19 and understanding of the virus continue to progress, state Sen. Judy Warnick is urging changes to restrictions that were put on fitness centers and youth sports in mid-November.

In a letter to the governor’s office, Warnick and Senate Republican colleagues point to the detrimental impacts of the limits that were recently put back on the numerous small businesses operating in the fitness industry and the adverse health implications for youth and Washingtonians in general. Industry associations had previously urged that they be allowed to continue operation as new spikes in COVID cases that precipitated the most recent round of restrictions are not coming from health clubs or youth sports.

“I believe we can keep our communities safe from the risks posed by COVID while encouraging healthy and active lifestyles,” Warnick said. “I think we need to be nimble and focused on what data is telling us. Closing down activities that are good for people’s physical and emotional wellbeing doesn’t align with the facts.”

According to state health statistics, less than 1 percent of confirmed cases have originated in the fitness sector.

“The nature of these activities makes it more compelling that they remain operational during this time,” Warnick added. “Our businesses and communities are constantly adapting and have the best interests of their patrons at heart. They are acting to stem the spread of the virus while contributing to a healthy population.”

The text of the full letter is here.

Warnick urges stiff penalties for Inslee’s apple maggot gaffe

In an effort to console eastern Washington communities devastated by wildfires, Gov. Jay Inslee recently stopped for a public event in the town of Malden. During his remarks, Inslee offered words of encouragement and a seemingly benign gift – a box of apples picked from his own yard.

However, the token of solidarity ran afoul of state regulations, and now reports indicate has exposed eastern Washington’s already-fragile agricultural industry to the apple maggot. Although classified as a misdemeanor, the agency in charge of enforcing these agricultural rules rarely, if ever, prosecutes.

“I’m surprised and frankly disappointed,” said Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, former chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “It was a nice gesture, but not well thought through. As the state’s executive, he should have followed the law to keep our state’s agriculture safe, instead of putting it at risk. I think that the stiffest penalties are in order.”

In a video posted to YouTube by the Cheney Free Press, crowds can hear Inslee say, “My wife Trudi and I picked a bunch of good Washington Honeycrisp off the governor’s tree this morning…” at the 22-second mark. If true, produce from western Washington must undergo stringent safety measures to prevent the importation of the apple maggot into eastern Washington. Malden resides in a quarantine area where no such pests currently exist.

“The state requires strict protocols to be followed when transporting produce because we want to keep our industry safe,” Warnick added. “I think it’s a fairly serious gaffe by the state’s executive and warrants a strong penalty.”

Warnick is urging the state’s Department of Agriculture to investigate the matter and ensure compliance with state regulations.

Agritourism rules dust-up highlights need for better engagement, say Senate ag leaders

Washingtonians continue to cope with the COVID-19 impacts often made worse by unclear, inconsistent and hastily drafted executive orders. The most recent victims of such rushed rules were agritourism businesses.

Late last week, the governor’s office issued rules that essentially shut down the industry, while letting other similar activities take place elsewhere. Farms would have been forced to shutter other attractions such as mazes, hayrides and even letting visitors see animals. Thanks to pressure from industry groups and agritourism businesses, the state reversed course and issued amended rules. Now, leaders on agricultural issues in the state Senate are highlighting the need for increased engagement and a more thoughtful approach.

“This isn’t the first time that the executive’s office has gone far beyond what makes sense,” said the ranking member on the Senate’s ag-related committee, Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “Though well-intentioned, the outreach from the governor’s office isn’t there, nor the understanding just what the impacts will be on hardworking families. I’m glad that there has been some resolution for this important part of our state’s agricultural industry, but it shouldn’t have happened to begin with.”

The updated guidance applies only to counties in Phases 2 and 3. Industry groups are still waiting for clarification from the governor’s office on how agritourism can proceed in counties currently in a modified Phase 1. Seemingly safe outdoor farm activities would still not be permitted even with safety protocols in place in Yakima, Benton, Franklin, Chelan and Douglas counties.

“The people in our state deserve consistency,” echoed Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy, the Senate Republican Floor Leader. “It doesn’t make any sense to shut down family farms trying to make a living but allow the same activities in other places. My hope is that the governor’s office does a better job actually engaging with people who are going to be impacted by his decisions, rather than this confusing process we’ve experienced.”

Senators Jim Honeyford, Warnick, and Short continue to push for the Legislature to reconvene and comprehensively address the state’s post-COVID recovery. Facing a budget shortfall of more than $3 billion, legislators have grown increasingly concerned with executive overreach and spending decisions.

“The governor needs to provide fair and common sense agritourism rules for modified Phase 1 counties. There’s no reason why corn mazes and animal viewing can’t be done safely and responsibly by our farmers,” said Honeyford, R-Sunnyside. “The arbitrary nature of these rules highlights why legislators ought to be in Olympia in some form to provide oversight. Too many important decisions are being made with zero legislative input that affect our constituents’ mental and physical health, and the health of our local economies. The people we represent deserve to have their voices heard on these decisions. That’s our job.”

Warnick urges farmers to access recently expanded Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)

Ranking member on the state Senate’s agriculture-related committee, Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, welcomed news from federal partners that more commodities are eligible for aid for Washington’s farmers and ranchers impacted by coronavirus restrictions. The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) began in April for a limited number of hardest-hit products, but US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue added additional commodities earlier this month, with more expected to join the list soon.

The program is designed to provide relief to farmers and ranchers under the CARES Act for commodities that had a 5% or greater price decline between mid-January and mid-April as a result of the pandemic.

“Washington’s regulatory and business climate already make it a challenge to be an ag-producer,” said Warnick. “I’m pleased that this program is expanding, and our farmers and ranchers can get some relief from the impacts of this coronavirus shutdown. I’m urging those affected to look and see if they are eligible and get the help they deserve.”

There are several options for applying for the CFAP program: https://www.farmers.gov/cfap/apply

Using an online portal, accessible at farmers.gov/cfap, allows producers with secure USDA login credentials—known as eAuthentication—to certify eligible commodities online, digitally sign applications and submit directly to the local USDA Service Center. New commodities are available in the system as of July 13, 2020.

Completing the application form using our CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator found at farmers.gov/cfap. This Excel workbook allows customers to input information specific to their operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which can be printed, then signed and submitted to their local USDA Service Center. An updated version with the new commodities is available on the website.

Downloading the AD-3114 application form from farmers.gov/cfap and manually completing the form to submit to the local USDA Service Center by mail, electronically or by hand delivery to an office drop box. In some limited cases, the office may be open for in-person business by appointment. Visit farmers.gov/coronavirus/service-center-status to check the status of your local office.

New customers wanting one-on-one support with the application process can call 877-508-8364 to speak directly to a USDA employee. The department recommends this as a first step before engaging with the FSA county office at the USDA Service Center.

Producers need to establish eligibility utilizing adjusted gross income and payment information by utilizing the forms on farmers.gov/cfap.

Legislature approves job-saving tax credit for aerospace refurbishing

The state Legislature gave final approval to Senate Bill 6068, sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, and co-sponsored by her seatmates, Reps. Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, and Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake. The bill keeps proven tax incentives for large airplanes undergoing modification work in Washington.

Hundreds of family-wage jobs will continue thanks to the tax policy. The nonpartisan Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee tested the original 2013 tax preference, showing it had attracted an entire industry to the state.

“Our community is the perfect place for this kind of work,” Warnick said. “People may not know that the Grant County airport has one of the biggest airfields in the world. We have a highly-skilled workforce, inexpensive and abundant energy and lots of space to meet the needs of this global industry that is calling Washington home. I’m hopeful that this policy will continue to attract talent and economic opportunity to the district and state.”

Public testimony to support the legislation noted that only a handful of companies in the world do the repair, maintenance and modification work now being performed in the 13th District. Failing to extend this slate of tax preferences would prompt an exodus of hundreds of jobs.

“What people once thought of as a desert community is quickly becoming a thriving aviation and aerospace oasis,” said Ybarra. “This bill will give a much-needed boost to this sector of our economy—bringing more jobs and higher wages to our region. I’m glad to have been a part of making this happen.”

Under the legislation, large aircraft owned by nonresidents that are undergoing work in Washington would be exempt from registration fees and sales and use tax; an aircraft excise tax would be paid in lieu of a property tax.

“This is a huge deal for Grant County and Washington state as we continue to become a global hub for aviation and aerospace. This legislation will help us continue down that path and make these sectors even stronger in our region,” said Dent. “This will assist us in growing our economic development as we increase employment in aviation-related industries in this region.”

The bill was approved with a near-unanimous vote in the Legislature. It awaits the governor’s signature.

Taking a Stand

Greetings from Olympia,

A great deal has happened in the Legislature since I last wrote to you. As I mentioned in my previous newsletter, the Senate was voting on bills to send to the House. I’m very pleased that a couple of bills that I sponsored were approved and will continue on in the process. As a reminder, the Legislature is scheduled to conclude its 60-day session on March 12.

The state recently had some great news. Namely, thanks to a strong economy, revenue projections are way up. The state is expected to collect $1.5 billion more than anticipated when we adjourned last April. So why aren’t we getting any tax relief? There hasn’t been any acknowledgement of the $30 car-tab issue or response to skyrocketing property taxes.

I’ve sponsored what I consider reasonable legislation to give needed property-tax relief, but the majority does not seem to think that is a priority. In fact, both the House and Senate have unveiled their proposed operating budgets. Unsurprisingly, new taxes and spending are on the horizon. In the Senate budget, the extra revenue is spent, and that doesn’t include the additional $1 billion tax on small business that was fast-tracked earlier this session.

While the budget does make some good investments in needed areas, I feel that with all the extra money we can provide for the neediest citizens while delivering tax relief. The chart above represents the growth in the state’s spending paid for with your tax dollars relative to gains you may have seen in your wages over the same period of time. We hear a lot about corporate greed, but I think we have been seeing too much government greed here in Olympia.

Taking a stand

In addition to some questionable budgeting, we are seeing all kinds of bills that concern me. While I’m in the minority party in the Senate, my colleagues and I were able to take a stand and put down a bad bill that would have prematurely restored voting rights for felons.

I’m not opposed to people having their voting rights restored after satisfying all of the terms of their sentence, but Senate Bill 6228, would have allowed offenders on parole to vote without completing their sentences or making restitution. A lot of the debate on the floor was characterized by unfortunate condescending arguments that really did not acknowledge victims’ rights.

Thankfully, enough of our Democratic colleagues saw just how bad this idea was and the bill did not make it out of the Senate.

Another contentious bill that we took up concerned creating a new government agency called the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention, Senate Bill 6288. While to some it may sound like a good idea, the language of the bill is concerning. I did not support the bill, but we were able to somewhat improve it, including having the office look at suicide prevention. Amazingly, even though statistics show suicide is the number one gun-related incident, that office wasn’t going to study it. Instead, it was aiming to focus on an agenda and, sadly, giving out grants to organizations that really just opposed the Second Amendment altogether. In the bill, there is a provision that says grants are only considered if they have a plan on how to implement “firearm reduction initiatives.” After this was pointed out, we were told it was just an oversight and a missing word. I’ll be watching this bill as it progresses.

Senate successes

The legislative process is supposed to work like a funnel. Thousands of bills are introduced every year, but only a fraction make it into law. That is a good thing. I’m pleased that a number of bills I’ve sponsored have been approved by the Senate to help our economy, the agriculture industry and law enforcement. I’ll be working hard in the remaining days to make sure they get to the governor’s desk.

Fairness for Fish and Wildlife officers

State Department of Fish and Wildlife officers are a sometimes-overlooked-but-important part of Washington state’s law enforcement community. That is why I sponsored Senate Bill 5481, which would reform how these officers are treated when it comes to collective bargaining and would put them on par with other state-level first responders… Read more.

Aircraft-repair tax incentive soars through Senate

Washington is synonymous with the aerospace industry, and not just the Puget Sound area. Hundreds of family-wage jobs exist elsewhere in the state thanks in part to tax policy supported by legislation I sponsored. Senate Bill 6068, which was approved on the next-to-last day of the Senate’s first round of voting, would retain proven tax incentives for large airplanes undergoing modification work in Washington… Read more.

13th District 2020 Team

Our district is fortunate to have a strong team working for you in Olympia. I want to say thank you to the wonderful staff for their dedication to our constituents and support of our work as legislators. I’m also fortunate to have thoughtful and hard working seatmates, Reps. Tom Dent and Alex Ybarra.

Together, we are making sure all the communities in the 13th District are heard in your state Capitol. We each bring a unique area of expertise and passion to serving you. Here is a recent photo of your 13th District team taking time to share dinner after work.

Working with me in Olympia

Madelayna Grajeda, a sophomore at Wilson Creek High School, spent a week paging for me in the Washington State Senate. I was honored to sponsor this bright young woman. She made an excellent page. Madelayna was always so willing to help and learned a lot about the legislative process through hands on experience.

It’s bit late to sign up for the 2020 session, but I encourage young people in our district to consider paging. It’s a wonderful program where students spend a week working at the Capitol. They get a chance to attend page school to learn about parliamentary procedure and the legislative process. Pages actually do some important work transporting documents between offices, as well as delivering messages and mail. Students also draft their own bills and engage in a mock session!

Click here for more information.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office with any concerns or ideas you may have about your state government.

Sincerely,

Judy Warnick,

Your 13th District State Senator

Aircraft-repair tax incentive soars through Senate

Washington is synonymous with the aerospace industry, and not just the Puget Sound area. Hundreds of family-wage jobs exist elsewhere in the state thanks in part to tax policy supported by legislation from state Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake. Her Senate Bill 6068, which was approved on the next-to-last day of the Senate’s first round of voting, would retain proven tax incentives for large airplanes undergoing modification work in Washington.

An evaluation of the original 2013 legislation by the non-partisan Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee showed the tax preferences have attracted an entire industry to the state.

“We’ve seen tremendous growth in this industry in and around Moses Lake and it is due to smart tax policy like this,” said Warnick. “It only makes sense to extend this practice for the next decade to ensure high-quality employment opportunities in our community.”

Public testimony in support of the legislation noted that only a handful of companies in the world do the kind of repair, maintenance and modification work now being performed in the 13th District served by Warnick. Failing to extend this slate of tax preferences would prompt an exodus of thousands of jobs, she said

Under Warnick’s legislation, large aircraft owned by nonresidents that are undergoing work in Washington would be exempt from registration fees, and sales and use tax; an aircraft excise tax would be paid in lieu of a property tax.

“Our community is the perfect place for this kind of work. People may not know that the Grant County airport has one of the biggest airfields in the world. We have a highly skilled workforce, inexpensive and abundant energy and lots of space to meet the needs of this global industry that is calling Washington home,” Warnick said. “I’m hopeful that this policy will continue to attract talent and economic opportunity to the district and state.”

The Senate approved the legislation by a vote of 47 to 1 and now heads to the House of Representatives.

Fairness for state Fish and Wildlife officers

State Department of Fish and Wildlife officers are a sometimes-overlooked-but-important part of Washington state’s law enforcement community. That is why state Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake sponsored Senate Bill 5481, which would reform how these officers are treated when it comes to collective bargaining and puts them on par with other state-level first responders.

“Law enforcement is a challenging profession, particularly when an agency is at a structural disadvantage,” said Warnick. “This bill puts them on a level playing field, creates fairness and allows them to recruit and keep the talent they need to do their jobs effectively.”

Under the bill that was approved unanimously, Fish and Wildlife officers below a certain rank would shift to a different collective bargaining agreement. In addition, the proposal would provide interest arbitration when at an impasse since they do not have the right to strike.

“Fish and Wildlife officers face tough working conditions – often first on the scene in remote locations,” Warnick added. “This legislation acknowledges that they do just as much valuable and dangerous work and should be treated fairly.”

Warnick’s bipartisan bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Warnick legislation to improve state food supply clears Legislature

The state legislature has approved a bill sponsored by state Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake that would formalize a public-private partnership to improve the state’s food-supply system. Senate Bill 6091 outlines goals of the Washington Food Policy forum, to include support for small farms, increasing the availability of food grown in the state, and reducing food insecurity.

“A system that ensures a secure, abundant supply of healthy food is vital to Washington’s economy,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “Agricultural products are worth over $10 billion to the state’s economy, supporting over 150,000 jobs on nearly 36,000 mostly family-owned farms and billions of dollars in exports. This group will provide valuable insights into improving our state’s food supply and support our agricultural producers.”

The food policy forum will be overseen by the state Conservation Commission and Department of Agriculture and include a broad group of stakeholders including legislators, industry experts, community groups and academicians. Under Warnick’s legislation, members of the forum will provide a report to the Legislature and governor by October 2021 and in odd-numbered years thereafter.

“The food-supply system is complex, and we need to ensure we have a broad base of expertise at the table. The forum members will be looking at ways to improve the regulatory environment for our producers, best use of farmland and ways to coordinate our agricultural efforts in the best way for our citizens,” said Warnick.

The bill was approved unanimously and now heads to the governor’s office for his signature.