12/21/05 Governor`s supplemental and ag

Washington Ag December 21, 2005 Governor Christine Gregoire on Tuesday submitted to the Legislature her supplemental spending plan which she says emphasizes fiscal responsibility but also makes targeted investments. One of those areas of targeted investment is agricultural production of biofuels. Gregoire: "We have what some would say a windfall in the public utilities tax. We simply reinvested that all in making sure families can meet their home heating bills and investing 17.5 million in low interest loans so that we can produce biofuels, biodiesel of tomorrow." Gregoire is also supporting Washington State University's plan for its 63-million dollar Bio Life Sciences building which the legislature didn't fund last year. Authorization is being sought to sell revenue bonds to build the facility with what are called Certificates of Participation. Gregoire: "But I also know that when it comes to agriculture in the eastern part of the state, if we don't invest in safety and quality we will lose our niche in the world." The governor is also asking for one million dollars in start up money for the Life Science Discovery Fund which was created in the last session to spend tobacco settlement money on hi-tech research. Gregoire is seeking about a one percent increase in spending for the state Department of Agriculture some of which would use used for avian flu monitoring and for surface water monitoring along the Upper Columbia River. I'm Bob Hoff.