01/11/05 Ag and the legislature; program deadlines

Washington Ag January 11, 2005 With state lawmakers back at work in Olympia, what should agriculture keep an eye on? Schoesler: "Water issues always have to be monitored. And also competitiveness issues with our infrastructure, water use, and technology, that impact our competitiveness not just here in Washington but overseas as well." That's Mark Schoesler of Ritzville, who after serving several terms in the state House of Representatives, was elected to the state Senate. One thing that can impact competitiveness is taxes and Schoesler says the House Finance Committee has proposed reviewing all tax exemptions. Schoesler: "And the people that were actually there that understand why they were put in place don't tend to be there anymore as generations of leaders turnover. And I think we have to able to explain those justifications, why they are there and why they make us competitive." Schoesler, a Republican, will be in the minority as the Democrats took control of the Senate, but he says one bright spot is that Marilyn Rasmussen is the chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. However, Schoesler says the chairman of the committee that covers water, Erik Poulsen of Seattle, is someone who has no background in agricultural water issues. Some reminders on USDA program deadlines coming up this week. Sign up for Ewe Lamb Replacement and Retention Program ends this Thursday, the 13th. Also, January 15th is the sign up deadline for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program or EQIP. I'm Bob Hoff.