MLIRD

Reader confident ESSB 6512 will pass in 2013

ESSB 6512 has become a win-win for both sides, the pro side of this bill has let Olympia know that Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District (MLIRD) has a problem, and has assigned our legislators to return home, have a hearing, and work out the language for a new bill next session.

The good part of this advice from our legislators is that this is no longer a MLIRD problem. It will be handled by our legislators and be almost guaranteed a bill for next session. I do not expect the opponents to change the bill very much.

There are four parts to this bill, all of which just make common sense - one person, one vote, 100 percent vote by mail, ballots to be sent to the county auditor's office, the people vote on any assessment increases.

What is there to argue about?

Another positive part of ESSB 6512 is that we now have a bill in hand. It's hard to discuss a possible change if you have no idea what the bill is or what it does. If we can come to an agreement on this bill, it should sail through the Senate and the House in 2013 and hopefully be one of the first bills signed by our new governor.

I want to say thank you to Sen. Janéa Holmquist Newbry and her assistant David Duvall for working so hard on this bill, it was not time wasted.

Mick Hansen

MLIRD board member

Moses Lake