Greenhouse Gas Relief Bill Pt 3

Greenhouse Gas Relief Bill Pt 3

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
I'm Bob Larson. Giving farmers regulatory relief. What a concept! That's what a new bill sponsored by state Representative Jacqueline Maycumber does when it comes to regulations tied to greenhouse gas emissions.

She says House Bill 1985 is for our ag industry before more taxes and regulations run growers out of the state for good ...

MAYCUMBER ... "When we talk about taxation, when you buy bread that's made from wheat in the state of Washington, you shouldn't have to be paying $10 a loaf because we have this taxation policy. You're actually helping the environment when you buy bread from wheat from the state of Washington. You're doing the right thing."

Maycumber says we're big players in agriculture ...

MAYCUMBER ... "So, it makes it energy-intensive trade commodities. So, what it does is it says it is an industry where it does take energy, but you're doing the right thing environmentally. We have the highest environmental standards. We have local production and that says you cannot tax us at a higher rate than anything else."

She says Governor Inslee picks and chooses who gets favors ...

MAYCUMBER ... "And the governor did say, you know, we don't want to cut out certain industries, but he does. He cuts out the biggest polluters in the state of Washington, some of those being big manufacturers and he lowers their tax rate so they can compete on a global scale. Our ag commodity competes on a global scale. Taxing them out of the industry does not help the environment and it does not help them."

Maycumber says she's optimistic the bill will move forward and help level the playing field for ag.

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