News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2010

MEDIA CONTACTS
Mollie Hammar, PR Director, (360) 528.2915
Dan Wood, Local Affairs Director, (360) 528-2909

LACEY, WA – The political action committee of the Washington Farm Bureau, the state’s largest general farm organization, has announced candidate endorsements for the upcoming primary election.

Candidates are recommended for endorsement based on their voting records (if already in office) and understanding and support of Farm Bureau policy. To see the complete legislative vote record for 2010 and past years, visit www.wsfb.com/issues/voterecord.

Whether an incumbent or challenger, each candidate undergoes a review process by their local Farm Bureau candidate evaluation committees before moving onto the state PAC for endorsement.

Additional candidates for federal offices are expected to be reviewed and endorsed prior to the general election. The list below contains endorsements made by the Farm Bureau PAC for the primary election.

FEDERAL
U.S. House of Representatives
John Koster (R), 2nd Congressional Dist.
Jaime Herrera (R), 3rd Congressional Dist.
Rep. Doc Hastings (R), 4th Congressional Dist.
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R), 5th Congressional Dist.

No candidate for U.S. Senate received sufficient recommendations to allow for an endorsement.

JUDICIAL
Justice Jim Johnson (NP), Washington State Supreme Court, Position #1
Justice Richard Sanders (NP), Washington State Supreme Court, Position #6
Harvey Dunham (NP), Division 3 Court of Appeals

STATE SENATE
Michael Baumgartner (R), 6th Dist.
Sen. Bob Morton (R), 7th Dist.
Sen. Jerome Delvin (R), 8th Dist.
Sen. Janéa Holmquist (R), 13th Dist.
Sen. Jim Honeyford (R), 15th Dist.
Sen. Derek Kilmer (D), 26th Dist.
Sen. Pam Roach (R), 31st Dist.
Sen. Tim Sheldon (D), 35th Dist.
Rep. Doug Ericksen (R), 42nd Dist.
Sen. Steve Hobbs (D), 44th Dist.

STATE HOUSE
Rep. Jim McCune (R), 2nd Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Larry Crouse (R), 4th Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Matt Shea (R), 4th Dist., Pos. 2
Rep. Jay Rodne (R), 5th Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Glenn Anderson (R), 5th Dist., Pos. 2
Rep. Kevin Parker (R), 6th Dist., Pos. 1
John Ahern (R), 6th Dist., Pos. 2
Rep. Shelly Short (R), 7th Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Joel Kretz (R), 7th Dist., Pos. 2
Rep. Brad Klippert (R), 8th Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Larry Haler (R), 8th Dist., Pos. 2
Rep. Susan Fagan (R), 9th Dist., Pos.1
Rep. Joe Schmick (R), 9th Dist., Pos. 2
Rep. Norma Smith (R), 10th Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Barbara Bailey (R), 10th Dist., Pos. 2
Rep. Cary Condotta (R), 12th Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Judy Warnick (R), 13th Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Charles Ross (R), 14th Dist., Pos. 2
Rep. Bruce Chandler (R), 15th Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. David Taylor (R), 15th Dist., Pos. 2
Rep. Ed Orcutt (R), 18th Dist., Pos 2
Rep. Richard DeBolt (R), 20th Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Gary Alexander (R), 20th Dist., Pos. 2
Ed Borey (R), 21st Dist., Pos. 1
Elizabeth Scott (R), 21st Dist., Pos. 2
Peter DeBoer (R), 23rd Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Christine Rolfes (D), 23rd Dist., Pos. 2
Rep. Bruce Dammeier (R), 25th Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Jan Angel (R), 26th Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Dan Kristiansen (R), 39th Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Kirk Pearson (R), 39th Dist., Pos. 2
Dusty Gulleson (R), 40th Dist., Pos. 1
John Swapp (R), 40th Dist., Pos. 2
Jason Overstreet (R), 42nd Dist., Pos. 1
Vincent Buys (R), 42nd Dist., Pos. 2
Rep. Frank Chopp (D), 43rd Dist., Pos. 1
Shahram Hadian (R), 44th Dist., Pos. 1
Rep. Mike Hope (R), 44th Dist., Pos. 2
Diane Tebelius (R), 48th Dist., Pos. 1
Craig Riley (R), 49th Dist., Pos. 1

LOCAL RACES
Peter Van Nortwick (R), Clark County Assessor
Commissioner Steve Stuart (D), Clark County Commissioner, Dist. 3
Commissioner Joe Bond (R), Ferry County Commissioner, Dist. 2
Clerk Kimberly Allen (R), Grant County Clerk
Commissioner Cindy Carter (R), Grant County Commissioner, Dist. 3
Rich Callahan (NP), Grant County P.U.D. Commissioner, Dist. 2
Commissioner Al Carter (D), Grays Harbor County Commissioner, Dist. 3
Terry Bow (D), Grays Harbor County Assessor*
Rick Hole (NP), Grays Harbor County Assessor*
Auditor Vern Spatz (D), Grays Harbor Auditor
Treasurer Ron Strabbing (D), Grays Harbor Treasurer
Treasurer Meredith Green (D), Kitsap County Treasurer
Abbey Burlingame (R), Kitsap County Commissioner, Dist. 3
Terra Dittmer (R), Mason County Commissioner, Dist. 3
Charleen Groomes (R), Okanogan County Clerk
Clerk Virginia Leach (D), Pacific County Clerk**
Assessor Bruce Walker (D), Pacific County Assessor**
Assessor Al Taylor (R), Stevens County Assessor
Don Dashiell (R), Stevens County Commissioner, Dist. 2
Pat Beehler (R), Thurston County Commissioner, Dist. 3
John Snaza (I), Thurston County Sheriff
Tom Nelson (R),Thurston County Treasurer
Glen Morgan (R), Thurston County Assessor
Prosecutor Dave McEachran (R), Whatcom County Prosecutor
Tony Larson (NP), Whatcom County Council, Dist. 1
Assessor Dave Cook (R), Yakima County Assessor
Mark Peterson (R), Yakima County Auditor
Clerk Kim Eaton (R), Yakima County Clerk
Coroner Jack Hawkins (R), Yakima County Coroner
Prosecuting Attorney James Hagarty (R), Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney
Sheriff Ken Irwin (R), Yakima County Sheriff
Treasurer Ilene Thomson (R), Yakima County Treasurer

Key:
*Dual endorsement
**Grays Harbor-Pacific County Farm Bureau

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2010

MEDIA CONTACTS
Mollie Hammar, Public Relations Director, (800) 331.3276 ext. 127
John Stuhlmiller, Government Relations Director, (800) 331.3276 ext. 103

OLYMPIA – Senator Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville and Representative Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, were each named “Legislator of the Year” by the Washington Farm Bureau at its board of directors meeting last week.

Washington Farm Bureau is the state’s largest general agriculture trade association, representing the economic and social interests of more than 38,000 member families. Since 1995, WFB’s board of directors awards one or more state legislators with the honor of being the organization’s Legislator of the Year. A legislator’s vote record and outstanding actions to help strengthen family farms are key criteria for receiving this award.

In his role as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Schoesler provided very clear and concise communication regarding the importance of agricultural trade to our state’s economy. His leadership and commitment to the farmers and ranchers of this state was evident in his 100 percent voting record. Schoesler was also named Legislator of the Year by Washington Farm Bureau in 2004.

Despite extreme pressure from special interest groups, Rep. Hinkle voted to protect farmland in a critical vote relating to the Shorelines Management Act and Growth Management Act, EHB 1653. Rep. Hinkle also worked tirelessly to protect agriculture in the Open Space Tax Program, sponsored legislation critical to ag, and ultimately earned a 100 percent voting record.

These 9th and 13th District lawmakers will be recognized for their efforts on behalf of Washington state farmers and ranchers at the Washington Farm Bureau’s 91st Annual Meeting in November.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2010

MEDIA CONTACT:
Mollie Hammar, Public Relations Director, 1.800.331.3276

Washington Farm Bureau Announces Support for Workers' Comp Initiative

LACEY, WA—The board of directors of the Washington Farm Bureau, the state’s largest general agricultural organization, has endorsed Initiative 1082, which would allow private insurers to sell industrial insurance in Washington state.

The goal of Initiative 1082 is to lower industrial insurance (workers’ compensation) costs for employers, while also maintaining safe workplaces. I-1082 would dissolve the state-run monopoly on workers’ comp by allowing private insurers the ability to sell industrial insurance in the state. Even though fewer claims have been filed (a 55 percent decrease in claims frequency since 1990), administrative costs at L&I have gone up 82 percent in the past 10 years. I-1082 does not seek to address or limit the benefits injured workers should receive.

“Initiative 1082 would give us a tool to fix Washington’s broken workers’ comp system simply by providing choices,” said Washington Farm Bureau President Steve Appel. “Forcing the state to compete in a free marketplace, rather than allowing it to continue to run an inefficient monopoly, would allow Washington to become more competitive with other states vying for businesses and jobs.”

Initiative 1082 would set up a system in which employers could choose where to purchase industrial insurance: the state fund, a private insurance company, or self-insurance. Washington is currently one of only four states that forbid private insurance in favor of a government monopoly. As such, the Department of Labor & Industries, which administers the state fund insurance program, has no incentive to run its program in a manner consistent with best practices in the private sector.

Washington Farm Bureau has lobbied the legislature for bipartisan changes in this long-broken system for the past several years, including during the 2010 legislative session. Because legislators have been unwilling to make the necessary reforms, the board of directors of the Washington Farm Bureau believes that this request for change must be brought to the people in the form of Initiative 1082.

“The agricultural sector is poised to lead our state out of this recession,” continued Appel. “I-1082 would give the farmers and ranchers of Washington, and other businesses, the tools needed to help make our state’s economic recovery happen faster for all of us who live here.”

The state’s $38 billion food and agriculture industry employs 160,000 people and contributes 12 percent to the state’s economy.

Washington Farm Bureau is a 38,000-member advocacy organization representing family farmers and ranchers across the state. For more information about the Washington Farm Bureau’s history of advocating for workers’ comp reform, visit www.wsfb.com or call 1.800.331.3276.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2010

MEDIA CONTACTS
Mollie Hammar, PR Director, (360) 528.2915

WFB Announces Legal Challenge to Ill-Conceived Guestworker Regulation

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The American Farm Bureau Federation filed a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent new H-2A rules from going into effect. The federal H-2A program allows agricultural employers to obtain visas for seasonal workers if there are insufficient domestic workers. Because the United States faces an ongoing shortage of readily available domestic labor, the H-2A program is considered a necessary tool for farmers to continue to grow and harvest food on U.S. soil.

A federal judge ruled in March 2009 that the Obama administration could not merely invalidate H-2A rules that were adopted under former President Bush. As a result, the Secretary of Labor rushed new H-2A regulations into place. Farm Bureau believes that the Administrative Procedures Act, Congressional Review Act and Regulatory Flexibility Act were violated in an effort to expedite the normal process for rule making.

In Washington state, approximately 60,000 seasonal workers are needed to harvest apples, cherries, berries, peaches, and many other crops. The season typically lasts six months and the hours of employment vary greatly from week to week. So does the location. As such, the typical income and work schedule of a farm worker is unpredictable.

Farm owners want a legal and stable workforce. They want the same skilled workers year after year working on their farms. Pursuing workers through the H-2A program is and ought to be a viable solution available for labor-intensive agriculture. Contrary to public perception, employers using the H-2A program are required to and do provide high wages, housing, and travel benefits for their workers.

The workers who enter our country via the H-2A program do so legally, and their presence here greatly benefits all of agriculture and our overall economy. A typical seasonal worker who participates in the apple harvest picks approximately 150 tons of apples during the two-month season, and helps spawn jobs in processing, transportation, and international trade. Making the already cumbersome H-2A program more difficult for employers to use hurts our economy by restricting the labor supply and thus one of the components of the job multiplier effect.

"The labor shortage we face in agriculture is very real and is only going to get worse if we don't address it properly through congressional action," said Washington Farm Bureau President Steve Appel. "People are under the false impression that the high unemployment rate is now allowing farmers to get the workers that they need. This is simply not the case."

If these rules are allowed to stand, farmers will be unable to attract sufficient workers, and Americans will be forced to rely more heavily on fruits, vegetables, and other commodities imported from other countries. In order to produce affordable, safe food, farmers need access to a legal and stable workforce. Otherwise, farmers will replace labor-intensive crops with those that can be mechanically harvested, due to a lack of workers.

The solution offered by the Obama administration's final rule on the H-2A foreign worker program only makes an already bad situation worse. These rules are going to make it especially hard for family-owned farms and other small family-owned businesses -- the backbone of our state's economy -- to stay afloat.

The lawsuit requests the issuance of a temporary restraining order. A hearing date has not been set.

Links to WFB News Releases:

News Releases 2009

News Releases 2008

News Releases 2007

News Releases 2006

News Releases 2005

If you are interested in receving Farm Bureau news releases directly in your e-mail, please contact WFB's PR Director Mollie Hammar at (800) 331- 3276.