04/18/07 Legislature passes ag time out for CAO

Washington Ag April 18, 2007 Legally existing agricultural activities won't get a permanent exemption from new regulations and buffers under the Growth Management Act, but they will get a three year time out from new rules. The state Senate concurred with a House amendment to Senate Bill 5248 yesterday and passed the measure on a 45 to 2 vote sending it on to the governor. During the time out period the Ruckelhaus Center will work with stakeholders on the issues involved. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Marilyn Rasmussen said it was the best lawmakers could do. Senator Mary-Margaret Haugen supported the legislation although she recognized the amended bill didn't give farmers the certainty they want. Haugen: "But I also know that if we don't do something we will continually be in the courts. Continually be in the courts." Senator Mark Shoesler argued against accepting the House amendment eliminating a permanent exemption for agriculture, which had been drafted by the Washington State Farm Bureau. Shoesler: "What we had when it left the Senate was a very good piece of work by the sponsor with a very strong bipartisan vote to actually fix the problem and not just study it away at a center outside of an agricultural area." But when the Senate accepted the House amendment even Schoesler voted for the bill. I'm Bob Hoff.