WPC on HB 1838 Pt 2
With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. The Buffer Bill, HB 1838, is being debated in Olympia with many calling it a “farm killer” that could potentially wipe out farming in our state.
Pam Lewison, Ag Initiative Director at the Washington Policy Center, says the first big problem with it is how little compensation farmers would receive for their land.
The other real problem it, Lewison says …
LEWISON … “No farmers were involved in the stakeholdering process for this bill before it was introduced to the legislature. So, this entire bill was written without any discussion with any farmer in the entire state of Washington.”
Supporters, Lewison says have credibility issues …
LEWISON … “What I thought was interesting listening to the hearing, was how many activists and how many people who were supporting the bill chose to site studies that were anywhere from 15 to 20-years old as their reason for taking land from private landowners and from farmers.”
That, Lewison says should be factored into the conversation …
LEWISON … “I come from a research background and if I had used 20-year old data for ANY research project that I had ever done, all of my work would have been discredited.”
Lewison says we need to find research that is new, relevant and helpful if we are truly going to do what is best for every community in our state.
