Governor's Relationship with Ag Pt 1
With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. Last month, Washington Governor Jay Inslee addressed the agricultural community in a Capital Press story, saying he can relate to farmers better than most politicians because he lived in Selah for 20 years and irrigated his hay field.
Washington Policy Center Initiative on Agriculture Director, Pam Lewison thinks that’s interesting, coming from the Governor …
LEWISON … “It strikes me as a little bit insincere to say that that connection is still there and is still strong when there’s policy that is in direct conflict with what should have been a strong survival experience.”
Lewison says he also supported legislation like the buffer bill, that everyone is grateful died …
LEWISON … “But it also opened a wound that I think is pretty deep and a lot of people, you know, I keep getting questions about it. I think people are really fearful.”
And so, looking ahead? …
LEWISON … “I think we also need to figure out, as a community, how to move on and figure out what we’re going to do next to try to heal that relationship amongst those of us with boots on the ground and move forward and try and figure out what the next steps are so that we can share in stewardship of where we live.”
It should be, Lewison says a two-way conversation …
LEWISON … “You know from reading that Capital Press story, you know, I think there’s an argument to be made that the Governor’s office needs to be willing to have real discussions with us.”
Tune in tomorrow for more on the Governor’s relationship with agriculture.
