Issue Collaboration

Washington Farm Bureau seeks to develop and maintain working relationships with other organizations to further our public policy goals.  This effort includes activities within the agriculture community as well as other organizations interested in the issues of interest to our membership.

Here is a brief overview about a few of the organizations we work with and the collaborative work we do.

Coalition of Washington Business Organizations (COWBO)
The Coalition of Washington Business Organizations (COWBO) works together on issues affecting the business community, focusing on protecting and strengthening our state economy. As such, the group often collaborates to bring forth important issues to the Legislature.

Top priority for the 2009 session must be to enact policies that will encourage job creation and recovery.

This includes making sure Washington is cost competitive in areas such as workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and regulatory policy. It means investing in services – like infrastructure, education and workforce development – that have the greatest potential to foster long-term economic growth and prosperity.  And it means avoiding any action that raises the cost of doing business, including direct tax or fee increases, elimination of incentives or increased regulation.

Ultimately, any decision that makes it more expensive for companies to retain or add employees will only delay or jeopardize economic recovery.

COWBO sent a letter to the Governor and Legislature conveying these concerns, as well as outlining actions the business community deems appropriate.

Previous letters from the group:

2008 COWBO Letter
2007 COWBO Letter
2006 COWBO Letter
2005 COWBO Letter

Ag Summit/Ag Package Requests
Each year the Agricultural community gathers to identify areas of agreement and mutual support from the diverse agricultural interests in our state. This gathering, called the Ag Summit, produces a combined Ag Package request which is then sent on to leadership in each of the four caucuses, as well as to the Governor for consideration. There are, of course, other issues that individual groups may pursue outside the structure of the Ag Package during any given year.

2009 Ag Legislative Agenda
To view priorities addressed in the past, view these previous Ag package request letters:
2008 Ag Legislative Agenda
2007 Ag Legislative Agenda
2006 Ag Legislative Agenda
2005 Ag Legislative Agenda