Tag Archives: Agriculture

Warnick retains chairmanship of now expanded committee

Ahead of the 2017 legislative session, the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus announced committee-chairmanship positions. Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, will remain chair of her now-larger Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade and Economic Development committee. Additional committee assignments will be announced after the Senate Rules Committee votes on the first day of the legislative session, which will be Jan. 9.

“I am excited to continue the work to improve our state’s agricultural and economic environment,” Warnick said. “The expanded committee will now be looking at trade policies in addition to the critical work on water and rural development that impacts my district and the state. These issues are all connected and we need comprehensive solutions. I think this restructured committee will be able to make significant steps to accomplish that.

“This legislative session will be challenging given pressures to address pesticide regulations and the recent state supreme court decision that limits permit-exempt wells, but I am optimistic that we can find common-sense approaches,” said Warnick.

Join me for the second annual Farm Hall!

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Friday, November 18th

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Governor signs trio of Warnick bills

In a formal ceremony this past Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee signed three bills sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake. The bills touched on a variety of policy issues: water access, pest control and first-responder benefits.

“This legislative session was eventful and busy,” Warnick said. “I worked hard to get these three pieces of legislation to the governor’s desk which can be a challenge in a short legislative session.”

The first bill, Senate Bill 6605, concerns the permitting of solid-waste facilities in eastern Washington. The bill requires the state Department of Agriculture to review permits for new facilities to ensure that invasive species, pests and disease are not introduced from quarantined areas west of the Cascades. Of particular concern is the risk that pests like the apple maggot would have on Washington’s nearly $4 billion apple crop.

“Having the state Department of Agriculture involved in the siting of facilities will make the process even better,” said Warnick. “This legislation promotes responsible waste management that takes into account the interconnectedness of our state’s economy.”

Senate Bill 6263, also signed Thursday, would allow members of the of the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters (LEOFF 2) pension plan to receive full retirement benefits for injuries that are currently considered non-duty related, such as responding to federally declared emergencies.

The final Warnick bill signed by Inslee, Senate Bill 6513, addresses a stat-wide issue relating to water access. Warnick, who serves as the chair of the Senate Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development Committee, made water access and quality issues a primary focus during the 2016 legislative session. The new law directs the state Department of Ecology to act on certain water-rights applications in the state’s water resource inventory areas for the Wenatchee and Elwha-Dungeness River basins.

“Finding consensus on water issues is challenging,” said Warnick. “However, there are communities in our state that need us to act. This bill moves us in the right direction toward allowing already planned water use.”

Legislature approves Warnick bill to protect crops from pests and disease

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, R- Moses Lake, to prevent the spread of destructive pests and disease through compost was approved unanimously by the state House.

“This is an important bill for our state,” Warnick said. “It provides necessary protections for our agricultural industry to ensure that this cornerstone of our economy continues to thrive. It is a great bill and I’m pleased that the House made it better with a minor amendment.”

Senate Bill 6605 would create a process for the state Department of Agriculture to review applications for moving waste for composting from facilities in quarantine areas to areas not under quarantine. The goal is to review information to ensure that facilities are not at risk of spreading plant pathogens, disease or pests.

Last year, the value of Washington’s apple crop alone was $3.7 billion, with total economic value to the state being $8 billion. Of the 142 million boxes produced, 30 percent are exported.

“Having the state Department of Agriculture more involved in the oversight of facilities will make the process even better,” said Warnick. “This legislation promotes responsible waste management that takes into account the interconnectedness of our state’s economy.”

Watch my video update – March 2016

Sen. Warnick’s E-newsletter – February 24, 2016

Update from Olympia – February 24, 2016

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

With just a few weeks left in the 2016 legislative session, our Senate majority continues to build on the results we achieved in 2015 while pushing for increased transparency and accountability in state government. I have been fortunate to have several of my priority bills approved by the state Senate; they are now working their way through the House of Representatives. As chair of the Senate Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development committee I continue to advocate for common-sense reforms to how our state engages with farmers and other agricultural producers, as well as seek bipartisan solutions to water issues around our state.

Increasing access to water

Getting agreement on water issues is challenging. This year, fortunately, one of my bills to improve access to water rights cleared the Senate with near-unanimous approval. Senate Bill 6513 comes in response to the state Department of Ecology’s notification to Chelan County that permits would not be issued. The legislation would direct Ecology to act on water-rights applications in the Wenatchee and Elwha-Dungeness river basins.

Expanding benefits for first responders

The Senate has approved my legislation to expand retirement and disability benefits to first responders injured or killed while responding to natural disasters or other federal emergencies. Senate Bill 6263, approved unanimously, would allow members of the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Retirement System (LEOFF 2) pension plan to receive unreduced retirement benefits for injuries that are currently considered duty related.

Protecting crops from pests and disease

Agriculture is extremely important in our district and state. Last year, the value of Washington’s apple crop alone was $3.7 billion, with total economic value to the state being $8 billion. It is critical to protect our producers whose efforts drive our state’s economy. To that end, legislation that I introduced was approved by the Senate to prevent the spread of invasive species, pests and disease through compost.

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Voters’ voices silenced by minority Democrats on 2/3rds tax-vote amendment

Last week I voted to let Washingtonians have the final word on requiring approval from a two-thirds majority in the Legislature to raise taxes. Senate Joint Resolution 8211, which would let voters amend the state constitution to include the popular two-thirds tax-vote threshold, failed to receive support from the Senate’s minority Democrats and therefore fell short of the 33 votes it needed to move to the House of Representatives (constitutional amendments require a higher level of approval, and tax increases should too).

The voters in Washington have said six times over two decades that it should be harder for the state to raise taxes. Their voices should be heard. The solution to our state’s challenges is not taking more and more of the people’s money. Our Senate majority has demonstrated that we can make issues like education a priority without raising taxes. Minority Democrats in the Senate made every excuse as to why they didn’t trust the people of Washington to have a voice, and I think they are wrong.

Click here to read more.

It is an honor to serve as your state Senator. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions regarding state government.

Sincerely,

Signature

Judy Warnick,

13th District Senator

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Warnick bill to protect crops from pests and disease clears Senate

Sen. Judy Warnick’s legislation to prevent the spread of invasive species, pests and disease through compost cleared the state Senate Wednesday with a near-unanimous vote.

“This bill makes sure that the transportation of waste meant for composting doesn’t spread harmful organisms that could endanger our state’s valuable agricultural products,” Warnick said. “We have seen incidents in which pests could have made their way into an area they should not have because of improper siting of a facility. Given that our state’s prominence in agricultural exports, it is critical that we do all we can to ensure the viability of our crops.”

Last year, the value of Washington’s apple crop alone was $3.7 billion, with total economic value to the state being $8 billion. Of the 142 million boxes produced, 30 percent are exported.

“We have state agencies reviewing applications for these types of facilities, however this critical component is not being addressed,” said Warnick. “The process laid out in my bill would ensure compliance with quarantine rules and strike a needed balance.”

Sen. Judy Warnick’s E-newsletter – October 1, 2015

Update from Olympia – October 1, 2015

Greetings,

I hope that you have had a safe and fun summer. As fall arrives there is a lot going on throughout our area and in Olympia. I recently traveled with my House colleagues around our legislative district visiting local newspapers to discuss the recent court decisions on education as well as other issues facing our district and state.

Ted

Rep. Tom Dent and I speak with Editor of the Royal City Register, Ted Escobar over lunch

Recently the Supreme court issued two rulings. One places a fine of $100,000 a day on the Legislature (and ultimately taxpayers) for what the court views is a failure to adequately fund education. This is despite the fact that since the Majority Coalition Caucus began leading the Senate in 2013, the Legislature has invested $4.5 billion more in education. Education spending now makes up nearly half of the state’s budget. This ruling is concerning in that I believe the court has overstepped its authority. Our state constitution is clear that the legislative branch is responsible for making decisions on spending, not the judicial branch.

The second ruling deemed voter-approved charter schools unconstitutional. This is simply an unfair decision to the thousands of students and parents who are already enrolled and excelling at new public charter schools. The court’s decision has been deeply criticized for its timing and lack of foresight which puts other successful education programs at risk as well. The state attorney general recently filed a motion for the court to reconsider its ruling and even former governor Christine Gregoire, who opposed charter schools, called the decision, “not right, not fair.” This particular case has raised many eyebrows because many of the justices that ruled in the majority received significant campaign contributions from the state teachers’ union who vehemently opposes school choice. I recommend you read a recent article about the case by clicking here.

Looking Ahead

As the chair of the Senate Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development Committee, I am mindful of the challenges our state – and particularly our area – face when it comes to water access and quality. This year those issues are compounded even more by the severe drought that has affected every corner of our state, but has hit our agricultural communities in eastern Washington the hardest. While I’m grateful the Legislature approved emergency funds to assist communities across our state that are suffering,, the fact remains that money can’t replace needed water. Thankfully, our farmers and citizens have done an excellent job of preserving and protecting our water resources.

I have been closely monitoring the state Department of Agriculture’s new push to increase inspections for dairies and farmers using manure as fertilizer aimed at preventing run-off and ground water pollution. This may be an example of unneeded, burdensome regulations. Just this past Monday the governor’s office issued a list of businesses they intend to target with a new tax on their carbon output. The list included McCain Foods, a local food processor in Othello. Why are they included in a list among industries like oil refineries and power plants? The fact is that our state will reach its goals to reduce carbon without these types of risky interventions that burden businesses and working families.

Around the District

Warnick One America

Rep. Tom Dent, his wife and myself with a community member accessing the Citizenship Day in Moses Lake

In addition to meeting with our local newspapers, I recently attended an event at Big Bend Community College called the New Americans’ Citizenship Day. This was a free event to help current legal permanent residents apply for citizenship. Becoming a citizen is a lengthy and expensive process and this workshop provided help to immigrants seeking to achieve the American Dream by becoming citizens of our great country. The program is in part funded by the state Department of Commerce and was graciously hosted by Big Bend Community College. I commend these volunteers and the more than 70 people seeking to become American citizens from all over the world including Mexico, Denmark, and Argentina.