News Releases 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2009

MEDIA CONTACTS
Pat Batts, CEO, (360) 357.9975
Mollie Hammar, PR Director, (360) 528.2915

Washington Farmers Re-elect Steve Appel to lead Farm Bureau

KENNEWICK, Wash. – Voting delegates at the Washington Farm Bureau (WFB) Annual Meeting today unanimously re-elected Steve Appel, a wheat and barley grower from Whitman County, to lead them into 2010. Appel has served as WFB President since November 1994.

A third-generation farmer, Appel is a graduate of Washington State University and recently retired from his position as vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the nation’s largest general farm organization with more than 6 million members.

Delegates unanimously re-elected Britt Dudek, a fruit grower in Chelan-Douglas as First Vice President for legislation.

In a closely contested race, first time candidate Mike LaPlant, a hay farmer from Grant County, was elected to the office of Second Vice President for Policy Development. Most recently LaPlant served as a member of the Washington Farm Bureau state board, representing Grant County; and as Chair of the WFB Water Advisory Committee.

WFB Second Vice President for Legislation, Dean Farrens announced his retirement prior to the election. A graduate of Washington State University, Farrens served ten years in this leadership role.

More than 300 delegates attended the 90^th Annual Meeting of the Washington Farm Bureau, held at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. Washington Farm Bureau is a 36,000-member advocacy organization representing family farmers and ranchers across the state.

###

WASHINGTON FARM BUREAU ENDORSES I-1033

LACEY, WA – The board of directors of the Washington Farm Bureau, the state’s largest general farm organization, has endorsed Initiative 1033, an act relating to protecting taxpayers by limiting the tax burden on Washington’s citizens. I-1033 would create a new revenue limit for the state, counties, and cities with the goal of providing annual property tax rebates.

In 1993 the people of Washington passed Initiative 601 in an attempt to put reasonable spending limits on government’s fiscal policies. Roughly a decade later, when the legislature exceeded its spending limits, WFB filed a referendum and legal case to preserve taxpayer protections of I-601. It is now necessary for the people to re-enact reasonable limits on the growth of government.

“I-1033 is a measure designed to give power back to the people,” said Washington Farm Bureau President Steve Appel. “It serves as a powerful reminder that it should be the citizens, not the politicians, who decide how and when government grows.”

I-1033 would restore restrictions similar to those passed in I-601, reestablishing limits that were gutted by the legislature in the past. I-1033 would allow the state, counties, and cities to grow, but at a rate that citizens can control and taxpayers can afford. Placing a reasonable limit on the growth of government encourages elected officials to finally start prioritizing and reforming government, with the taxpayers in mind.

According to the state’s Office of Financial Management, passage of I-1033 would result in approximately $5.9 billion in state property tax rebates and $2.8 billion in local property tax rebates going to citizens by 2015. State and local revenue available for spending increases would grow each year during this period at a rate based on population growth plus inflation.

I-1033 takes government off the fiscal roller coaster, allowing it to grow at a sustainable rate that doesn’t outpace taxpayers’ ability to afford it.

Washington Farm Bureau is the state’s largest general agriculture trade association, representing the economic and social interests of more than 36,000 member families.

Farm Bureau recommends ballot measures for endorsement based on how they align with policy, which is established each year at the organization’s Annual Meeting in November. Similarly, candidates are recommended for endorsement by the Washington Farm Bureau PAC, based on their voting records (if already in office) and their understanding and support of Farm Bureau policy.

To see the complete list of ballot measures and candidate endorsements for the upcoming election, visit www.wsfb.com/issues/voterecord.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2009

MEDIA CONTACTS
Amy Brackenbury, BIAW,  (800) 228.4229
Patrick Connor, NFIB, (360) 786.8675
Mollie Hammar, WFB (800) 331.FARM

L&I Announces Higher Taxes on Employers and Workers

OLYMPIA—While small businesses are fighting to stay afloat and working wage families are struggling to make ends meet, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) today announced a whopping $117 million increase in the workers’ compensation taxes paid by employers and employees.

The $117 million tax hike is in addition to the 40 percent workers’ comp tax increases employers and employees have already shouldered over the last five years.

“L&I’s proposal to increase taxes on small businesses and workers comes during an economic recession that has resulted in Washington State losing more than 117,800 jobs and boasting double digit unemployment rates,” said BIAW Deputy Legislative Affairs Director Amy Brackenbury. “Already struggling businesses will be even more threatened by L&I’s proposal,” Brackenbury said. “Any tax increase on businesses right now is crazy—how much more can Washington State businesses take?”

Senator Janéa Holmquist (R?Moses Lake), the ranking Republican member on the Senate Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection committee, agrees a workers’ comp tax increase is the last thing small businesses need right now. “At a time when our economy is trying to recover, the most irresponsible thing we could do is levy a job?killing, multimillion?dollar tax increase on our employers and their employees without first reforming the serious flaws in the workers’ compensation system,” said Holmquist.

While L&I pushes for businesses and workers to pay higher workers’ comp taxes during a crippling recession, the system continues to flounder. In Washington, the average injured worker misses 257 days of work, nearly three times the national average. By contrast, Oregon’s average time loss rate is about 70 days. And although employers are doing their part to improve job?site safety and control claims costs (since 1990, injured worker claims have dropped 55 percent), L&I’s cost to administer these dwindling claims has increased 28 percent in the last year. In fact, Washington’s workers’ comp system is among the costliest in the nation.

“Clearly our state’s workers’ comp system is broken and needs fixing,” said Patrick Connor, state director for NFIB/Washington. “Businesses and workers cannot continue to shoulder tax increases when the state’s economy is in such perilous condition,” said Connor. “The time has come to fix the obviously broken workers’ compensation system instead of making businesses and workers pay more and more to keep it afloat.”

Many states around the country are experiencing rate decreases as a result of major reform efforts and competitive markets for insurance. Workers’ comp rates in Oregon decreased by 5.5 percent, marking the 19th year in a row without a rate increase. In West Virginia, which moved to a privatized system in 2005, costs are down 30 percent. Hawaii has decreased premiums 65.5 percent since 2006. Texas is returning $75 million in premium dividends to employers, just four years after implementing major reform. Colorado, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida are also among the states where workers’ compensation costs will be lower in 2010.

“I am frustrated L&I is proposing to increase workers’ compensation taxes,” said Senator Tim Sheldon (D? Potlatch). “Businesses in my district are really struggling in this economy and now is a terrible time to raise taxes,” said Sheldon. “I hope to see legislation in 2010 to bring efficiency and accountability to the Department.”

Brackenbury said the business community would welcome such legislative fixes. “Washington’s workers’ compensation system is collapsing, and merely pouring more money into it won’t help,” said Brackenbury. “What will help is reforming the system—implementing better ways to operate, increased efficiency and cost cutting measures,” she said. “The business community has been begging for these kinds of reforms for years.”

###

CONTACTS:

Patrick Connor, NFIB, 360-786-8675
The National Federation of Independent Business is the voice of small business in Washington State, representing 8,500 small business owners who employ 42,500. For more information about NFIB go to www.NFIB.com/WA or call 866.307.2846.

Amy Brackenbury, BIAW, 800-228-4229
Known as the “champion of affordable housing,” the Building Industry Association of Washington is the largest trade association in Washington State, representing over 350,000 families and 12,000 member companies involved in the homebuilding business.

Mollie Hammar, WFB, 800-331-FARM
Washington Farm Bureau is a 36,000 -member advocacy organization representing family farmers and ranchers across the state. For more information about the Washington Farm Bureau go to www.wsfb.com or call 800.331.3276.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2009

MEDIA CONTACTS
Dan Fazio, Employer Services Director, (360) 528.2917
Mollie Hammar, PR Director, (360) 528.2915

Retro Works, Don’t “Fix” it

Olympia, Wash. – ESSB 6035, Concerning retrospective rating plans, was heard by the House Commerce & Labor Committee Tues. March 24. And the testimony from business owners across the state was overwhelmingly negative. 

“ESSB 6035 would do more to harm farmers and ranchers than it would to keep them safe,” said Washington Farm Bureau President Steve Appel, when asked about the issue. “I urge Chair Conway to heed the concerns expressed by the business community and let this bill die in Committee.” 

Members of several business associations testified against the bill, stating that the bill is not needed because:

• Retro programs are a contractual agreement between the employer and his or her association;
• The contract and the process are transparent for those who participate in retro ? the employer and the association;
• Although each association is different, they each already disclose to their members how retro contributions are being spent by the association;
• No one is forced to join a Retro program;
• Limiting how retro programs spend their refund money earned is an unconstitutional attack on free speech;
• and, ESSB 6035 does nothing to increase accountability for L&I or shed light on how the agency determines its ratings ? that is where the sunshine is needed.

During his testimony on behalf of Washington Farm Bureau, first vice president Britt Dudek, a cherry grower from Wenatchee, called attention to the packed hearing room, asking members of Farm Bureau to stand. Nearly everyone seated in the gallery rose to their feet. 

Likening ESSB 6035 to the McCarthy era, Dudek said, “It is positively un-American to cut off our speech. And make no mistake that is exactly what this bill does.”

Rick Anderson, a Farm Bureau member from Sakuma Brothers Farms in Burlington, testified that Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, one of the original sponsors of the bill, voted against Senate Bill 6035 when it came time for a vote. Regarding her change of heart, Haugen wrote in an e-mail to Anderson that although she has concerns about RETRO programs, she “no longer believed that SB 6035 is the right way to address those issues.” 

Agriculture is the largest employer in Washington state, employing more than 250,000 people (not counting processing, transporting, and trade related jobs). Agriculture provides a $30 billion boost to our state’s economic output ? with the largest proportion related to labor intensive agriculture. As such, providing workplace safety is a key part of maintaining a successful agribusiness in Washington. 

“Our Retro/Safety program allows Washington Farm Bureau to help farmers and ranchers create jobs and stimulate our state and national economy,” said Appel. “By forcing associations to create more staff positions to deal with bureaucratic paperwork to fix a problem that doesn’t exist, the Legislature is regulating businesses out of Washington. That may not be their intent, but that’s the reality.”

### 

Washington Farm Bureau is a 36,000-member advocacy organization representing family farmers and ranchers across the state. For more information about the Washington Farm Bureau go to www.wsfb.com or call 1.800.331.3276.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2009

MEDIA CONTACTS
Dan Fazio, Employer Services Director, (360) 528.2917
Mollie Hammar, PR Director, (360) 528.2915

Washington Employers Want a Legal Workforce

Olympia, Wash. -- House Bill 1896, Creating the Washington state essential worker pilot program, is scheduled for public hearing before the House Committee on Commerce & Labor Wed. Feb. 11 at 1:30 p.m. This bill is one of the top priorities of the Washington Farm Bureau and other members of the state’s Agricultural Caucus for 2009.

Despite record numbers of unemployed workers, there are still not enough legal seasonal workers available to meet the demand. Many of these available workers are not authorized to work here.

Although immigration is a federal issue, the failure of Congress to act during the better part of two decades, has forced states to respond.

The Washington essential worker program would make our state a leader in comprehensive immigration reform, directing our state to work with the federal government in this regard. It would:

• Allow employers with the need for seasonal, peak need, or project related workers to request assistance from the state in hiring legal workers;
• Direct the state to request appropriate waivers from the federal government and negotiate directly with other countries to provide these workers;
• Provide a preference for the local workforce for jobs requested in the program;
• Charge employers an appropriate fee for services provided by the state; and,
• Provide workers designated as “essential workers” with training programs such as English language classes.

Agriculture is the largest employer in our state. More than 250,000 people are employed directly in agriculture, not counting processing, transporting, and trade related jobs.

Agriculture provides a $30 billion boost to our state’s economic output ? with the largest proportion related to labor intensive agriculture. Agriculture is an economic engine that, along with aerospace, provides robust export trade that is crucial to our national economy.

“The essential worker pilot program would create jobs and stimulate our state and national economy,” said Washington Farm Bureau’s Director of Employer Services, Dan Fazio. “We need a stable, legal workforce and passing this legislation is a very important step in getting there.”

Mr. Fazio will be at the hearing room, along with dozens of agricultural employers, and available for comment either before or after the hearing (House Hearing Room B, John L. O’Brien Building). Contact him at (360) 951-8641 or via e-mail at dfazio@wsfb.com to arrange an interview.

### 

Washington Farm Bureau is a 36,000-member advocacy organization representing family farmers and ranchers across the state. For more information about the Washington Farm Bureau go to www.wsfb.com or call 1.800.331.3276.