Warnick Reacts To Hirst Impact Study

Last week, the Building Industry Association of Washington released a study showing the economic impact of the Hirst water rights decision.  The report shows an annual $6.9 billion economic hit to Washington, predominately in rural community, early 10,000 full time jobs lost in rural Washington each year and a loss of nearly $400 million in state and local taxes each year.

State senator Judy Warnick who proposed four fixes to Hirst during the 2017 legislative session, says Hirst has become a rural versus urban issue, making it all the more frustrating.  Warnick told the Washington Ag Network the fix promoted this year by Democrats and Governor Jay Inslee is no fix at all.

“The first one was 18 months the second one was a two year fix, then possibly a five year fix.”

Warnick added that banks and lending institutions will not loan out money until a permanent fix is on the books.  Warnick notes a nearly $7 billion annual loss is detrimental to an already fragile rural economy.

“Seattle’s doing well, Bellevue’s doing well, Everett, even in some circles Tacoma’s doing well, but our rural areas are really struggling."

Warnick added once a true fix to Hirst is approved, Republicans will gladly approve the Capital Budget, which is currently on hold in Olympia.

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