09/15/05 Governor says no quick fix on fuel prices

Washington Ag September 19, 2005 Governor Christine Gregoire says Washington farmers are taking a triple hit in the wake of Hurricane Katrina with higher diesel prices, higher fertilizer costs and low wheat prices but she is not going to call a special legislative session to grant fuel tax rebates for agriculture. Gregoire: "With regard to the farmers, I have asked for both short term and long term joint hearings in October and let's go out and talk to the farmers in the state and ask them what the problems are and how we can help them. And how you give them a sabbatical or I think they mean a rebate, I just don't know how you administer it. So no, I have no intention of calling a special session. I want us to be thoughtful in what we do." What the governor wants to do is seek a long term solution like the development a biofuels industry in the state. And she has charged Agriculture Director Valoria Loveland to play a leading role in leading a multi-agency effort on bioenergy. Gregoire says there is no nexus between Gulf and Washington's petroleum supply and refining so she has asked the U.S. Attorney General to investigate why fuel prices in the state went up some 20 cents a gallon following Katrina. Gregoire: "Why is it that we as a country allow these profits to continue with an industry who makes millions everyday in profits yet will not stand by us in a time of a natural disaster?" I'm Bob Hoff.