Beef Commission Bill Passed Unanimously

Beef Commission Bill Passed Unanimously

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
I'm Bob Larson. A bill we told you about over a month ago that would increase check-off fees and add more oversight to the Washington Beef Commission finances is headed to the Governor for his signature.

The state Senate passed House Bill 2073 unanimously, but Moses Lake Representative Tom Dent says the Commission wasn't on board right out of the gate...

TOM DENT ... "When the deal came out, of course, there was a lot of push-back, you know, the first day and so I just suggested everybody take it home over the weekend and read it and we'll talk on Monday, right? And they checked back in on Monday and, "hey Tom, this looks pretty good, you know, we like it!" Well, we had a couple of little issues going on there, but we can work around that. So really, overall, it's been pretty positive, you know, the feedback. Once they took it, sat down and read it, saw what was in there, they like it."

Dent says the changes have been a long time coming ...

TOM DENT ... "If the check-off fee increase will ever happen, we're going to have to change a little bit on where the money goes. That's pretty much how it is. You know that was put together, I think, some 30-some-years ago. So, it just kind of redirects what they spend their money on. Our world has changed since 30 years ago, right, on how we advertise and what we do. And the people have changed, all of our technology so, it's just kind of changing things a bit. I'll tell you, kind of the basis of it for me, what I could see, instead of trying to sell or promote beef, trying to sell hamburgers, we should sell the industry."

Dent says in the end, it wasn't so much the money they had an issue with the cattlemen, but working out a plan to put in accountability measures that make it more transparent.

Previous ReportPink Snow Mold in SW Washington Wheat Fields Pt 2
Next ReportFair Funding in Jeopardy