John McCoy

Washington state Senator John McCoy raised the ire of many in the farm industry last year when he claimed that farmers don’t pay taxes, but is that true?   A Recent Study conducted by the Washington Policy Center found that statement to be false, noting that farmers and ranchers pay a variety of taxes, including B&O tax, self-employment taxes, and state and federal payroll taxes.  WPC noted Wa

If she had one word to describe the 2019 Washington legislative session, the Washington Policy Center’s Pam Lewison would use the word: brutal.   She said lawmakers this go around appeared to have a very negative attitude towards farmers and the Ag industry in Washington.  Lewison ...

In a very challenging 2019 legislative session, many in the Ag community are walking away from Olympia saying that education and outreach is the key.  Michelle Hennings Executive Director for the Washington Association of Wheat Grower says one of the best examples of this was when senator John McCoy said the farming community in Washington does not pay taxes.  He...

Along party lines, the Washington state Senate approved legislation allowing the state Employment Security Department to charge farmers that use the H2-A program.  The bill would allow ESD to charge up to $500 to apply for H-2A workers and up to $75 per head. Tha...