01/13/06 Diesel tax relief clears House

Washington Ag January 13, 2006 When it came time for the State House of Representatives to vote this week on relief for farmers hit by rising diesel costs, Republican Representative Janea Holmquist of Moses Lake told fellow lawmakers it was a simple decision to make. Holmquist: "To my knowledge there's actually only three states that apply a sales tax to farmers' use of fuel. So this is a no-brainer. It is going to help level the playing field." Before House members voted 96 to 1 to eliminate the sales tax on diesel used for agriculture, 9th District Republican David Buri praised the bipartisan support shown for the emergency bill. Buri: "We are less concerned I think it shows by whose name is on the bill but by actually getting something done." And while it gets something done, the bill's sponsor, Democrat Bill Grant of Walla Walla, cautioned its not the total solution to agriculture's current woes. Grant: ""This is not something that is going to save every farmer from disaster. But it will help keep those farmers in existence a little longer until possibly we can get the price of wheat turned around or the price of ag products turned around and help hose people survive." House Bill 2424 now goes to the Senate where Majority Leader Lisa Brown of Spokane says it will be put through committee to square it with the budget. I'm Bob Hoff.