Senate Republicans unveil 2006 agriculture agenda

Mulliken expecting 'intense discussion, negotiation' with Democrats

OLYMPIA — Senate Republicans recently unveiled their 2006 agriculture agenda, which addresses several issues impacting Washington farmers.

The agriculture agenda includes the following provisions:

— Ease tax burdens on farming;

— Provide incentives for farmers who produce renewable fuels;

— Protect property rights and promote options to sustain farm viability;

— Rein in rising labor costs so farmers and producers can compete in national and world markets;

— Develop water storage and water infrastructure projects that will help agriculture;

— Promote water conservation and remove regulatory barriers to the efficient use and transfer of agricultural water, and

— Support state funding in areas to sustain agriculture, including agricultural research, technical assistance and infrastructure improvements.

"We're drafting all of the bills necessary to implement it, some of which are carry over bills from last year," Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville and ranking member on the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee, said of the agenda. "We heard strongly enough from agriculture suppliers, producers and processors that we're to continue to support existing bills and introduce the new ones, including some not necessarily popular across the aisle."

The bills will be introduced immediately at the beginning of the legislative session, Schoesler said, and can find their way through the budget process or the amendatory process.

Sen. Joyce Mulliken, R- Moses Lake, finds reaction to the agenda interesting, because she believes that the Democrat majority and governor's office are politically trying to move into eastern Washington, recently holding a public meeting in the area and making moves to be receptive to farmers' needs.

"My response is, 'Yay, I'll take whatever it takes to help our farmers, I will work with the other side of the aisle,'" Mulliken said, adding that she expects strong reception to some of the Republican proposals, although she cautioned that Democratic solutions are usually all about money.

"I'm not saying tax incentives are not a good plan, but the Republican proposal is about regulatory relief and offering incentives (that go) beyond money," she said. "I believe our proposal gives farmers the opportunity, as the law states, to have reasonable expectations of making a profit."

Using oil seed crops is a good example of the Republican proposal, Mulliken continued.

"I believe that the state's obligation is to provide a market and, so to speak, put our money where our mouth is," she said, adding that the state should require all state-owned vehicles to use a blend of alternative fuels. "That would be a good regulatory method of supporting farmers, and yet wouldn't take any money out of the taxpayers."

Mulliken said she does not believe the state should fund an oil seed crusher, because that would put Washington in competition with the private sector.

Schoesler said the Republicans' goal is to clearly demonstrate their agenda and what they would do to help the agriculture community.

"The majority can ignore the need of the industry, or put a Band-Aid on it, or they can join us in really addressing these issues," he said.

A Ritzville wheat farmer himself, Schoesler said that many of the Senate Republicans are closely connected to the agriculture industry. It's very clear that those in the industry want positive change to minimum wage, they need water flexibility and relief from the fuel and energy crisis, he said, naming those as three of the higher priorities.

"Minimum wage has been a huge thorn to agriculture, the lack of flexibility in water is very important to anybody with irrigated agriculture and the energy crisis has impacted all of ag really hard," he said. "The best short-term thing we can do is eliminate the portion of sales tax on diesel."

Mulliken said she was expecting "intense negotiation and compromise" with Democrats.

"I'm very excited, I think we're going to do something good this year for the farmers," she said. "Farmers are going to win no matter what we do, and we will do something because of political commitment from the majority."