Published May 2001

Lawmakers, don’t forget needs of rural regions

By Don C. Brunell
Guest Editorial

Lately, Republican Speaker Clyde Ballard (East Wenatchee) has been sharply critical of Gov. Gary Locke, the Legislature and state agencies.

Some see it as a personal feud between leaders of different political parties, but I disagree. It is about the two Washingtons — urban Washington and rural Washington.

Ballard and other rural legislators continue to see family farms, small towns and local businesses go under while the Puget Sound thrives. Despite a recent blip in the economy, high-tech profits continue to soar while markets for agriculture products continue to sink.

The frustration is coming to a head as legislators and the governor attempt to write a budget. To understand why, take a look at what has happened over the past few years.

• The voter-approved initiative that raised the minimum wage didn’t hurt Seattle, but it did hurt the southeastern Washington town of Clarkston. Hamburger flippers in Seattle already were making $8 per hour plus benefits, but forcing Clarkston employers to pay Seattle wages crippled their ability to compete with Idaho businesses just across the Snake River where the minimum wage is $1.00 an hour lower.
• In Forks, halting timber harvests because of environmental restrictions had the same impact as the 1970s Boeing layoffs had in Seattle (“Will the last person leaving Seattle please turn off the lights?”).
• Officials with the Bonneville Power Administration are suggesting that the aluminum industry, which provides thousands of high-paying jobs in rural communities, simply go out of business so there will be more electricity for the rest of us.

Add up all these frustrations and you can see why Clyde Ballard strikes out.

Lawmakers need to act soon because the threat is not confined to Eastern Washington. The issues of job loss, business climate, water shortages and the power crisis have crawled across the Cascades and sit perched on Seattle’s doorstep.

Don C. Brunell is President of the Association of Washington Business.

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