Agriculture

Nothing has highlighted the urban-rural divide in Washington recently quite like the issue known as Hirst. What sounds like a boring battle of bureaucratese has actually upended the lives of so many in rural areas and threatens to hold back our state’s economy (outside the tech bubble, which has had its own rude surprises of late).

At a time when economic growth is making historical bounds, Hirst is hurting economics in Washington State!  

Water-rights decision could have disastrous consequences for Washington families, workers

July 21, 2017

In what may be the biggest attack on our property rights in my lifetime, the Legislature was unable to come to an agreement on a fix to allow rural landowners access to water via permit exempt wells.  Despite a 105-day regular session and three, 30-day special sessions, many rural landowners in our state will not have access to water and will see their investments decimated and their dreams shattered.  At the same time, many other property owners will see their property taxes go up as a result of the impending property tax shift.