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8 CapitalPress.com January 16, 2015 Washington Senate Majority Leader puts Sakuma attorney: Piece-rate pay down cap-and-trade plan Washington governor says he expected ‘heavy skepticism’ By DON JENKINS Capital Press OLYMPIA — Senate Ma- jority Leader Mark Schoesler opposes Gov. Jay Inslee’s pro- posal to cut carbon emissions by taxing greenhouse gases. “I think there are really strong concerns about the impact on jobs around the state,” Schoesler said Jan. 8 at a forum hosted by The Associated Press at which legislative leaders and Inslee pre- viewed the 2015 session. Inslee has proposed capping the amount of greenhouse gases some 130 businesses, including food processors and one fertiliz- er manufacturer, can release. To Courtesy photo Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s plan for a carbon tax is running into opposition in the Legislature. emit any carbon at all, business- es on the list would have to bid for credits at auctions. The gov- ernor’s office estimates the auc- tions would raise approximately $1 billion a year. Inslee says his policy, driv- en by concern about climate change, would raise badly need- ed money for transportation projects and education. Schoesler, a Ritzville Repub- lican, said the state shouldn’t rely on taxing carbon to permanently increase education spending. “The goal is to reduce carbon output, so if we’re successful, we’re choking off our source of funding,” he said. Schoesler’s opposition sig- naled that Inslee’s proposal will have a tough time winning ap- proval this year in the GOP-con- trolled Senate. Speaking later at the same forum, Inslee said he had antici- pated his cap-and-trade proposal would face “heavy skepticism.” Carbon markets have worked elsewhere, but it will take time to win over skeptics here, he said. “This is the nature of progress in a democracy.” Inslee said it makes sense for “polluters” to pay for education and transportation, two pressing topics for lawmakers. Democratic leaders said they would seriously consider Ins- lee’s proposal, but stopped short of endorsing it. “There’s strong public sup- port across the state for dealing with that issue, climate change,” said House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle. “We can’t ig- nore it. We have to deal with it.” Business and labor organiza- tions, including the Washington Farm Bureau and Northwest Food Processors Association, have formed a group, the Wash- ington Climate Collaborative, to oppose Inslee’s proposal, which is modeled after California’s cap-and-trade program. The 105-day session con- vened Jan. 12, and lawmakers are being pushed to increase K-12 education spending. The state Supreme Court has ruled law- makers have failed to adequately fund education, and voters in No- vember passed an initiative man- dating smaller class sizes. Lawmakers also will be pressed to increase spending on mental health and transportation. Besides taxing carbon, Inslee has proposed several other tax increases, including a 7 percent tax on capital gains over $25,000 for individuals and $50,000 for couples. Retirement accounts and the sale of farms and homes would be exempt from the tax. rewards pickers Supreme Court to hear oral arguments March 17 By DON JENKINS Capital Press Washington growers’ prac- tice of not separately paying piece-rate pickers for rest breaks rewards good workers, according to a brief filed with the state Supreme Court by Sa- kuma Brothers Farms. “Farmworkers return to Sa- kuma year after year because of high piece-rate wages that can far exceed minimum wages,” the company’s attorney, Adam Belzberg, states in written argu- ments submitted Jan. 9. The Burlington, Wash., berry farm is being sued by piece-rate pickers seeking additional com- pensation for 10-minute rest breaks, which workers are al- lowed to take every four hours. The workers argue that the current practice, standard in Washington agriculture, unfair- ly excludes piece-rate pickers from a benefit guaranteed other employees. The high court agreed to consider the workers’ claim and will hold oral arguments in March. The challenge to established practice emerged from a fed- eral class-action lawsuit by Sakuma workers who alleged their pay was not properly cal- culated. The company denied any wrongdoing, but agreed to a $500,000 settlement, which was eventually shared by 408 workers. The settlement didn’t re- solve whether piece-rate work- ers are eligible for additional pay for the time they spend on break. A federal judge referred the question to the state court. Sakuma’s case relies heav- ily on a 1990 administrative rule written by the state De- partment of Labor and Indus- tries, with the advice of farmers and labor representatives. The department considered addi- tional break pay for piece-rate workers, but decided against it, according to a documents sub- mitted to the court. Belzberg said in an inter- view that the rule clearly never intended for piece-rate workers to receive additional pay. In written arguments, Bel- zberg stated that changing the rule would interfere with the historical right of workers to engage in piece-rate agree- ments with employers. Farmer and Odessa Public Development Au- thority President Clark Kagele stands outside the biodiesel facility in February 2013 in Odes- sa, Wash. The public development authority is again looking for an experienced biodiesel producer to take over operations at the facility. Matthew Weaver/ Capital Press Biodiesel plant owner looks for experienced operators Proposals due Jan. 30 By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press The public development authority in Odessa, Wash., is still looking for a new opera- tor for its biodiesel production facility. Proposals are due to the Odessa Public Development Authority before 5 p.m. Jan. 30. The agency is looking for an experienced biodiesel pro- ducer to resume production at the facility. According to the OPDA request for proposals, the de- cision will be based on several factors, including experience, financial resources and plans for the facility. “We have received a lot of inquiry; however, the last request for proposals did not produce a qualified tenant,” said Stacey Rasmussen, man- ager for OPDA. TransMessis Columbia Plateau LLC stopped produc- tion last fall at the facility due to poor market conditions. The authority owns the building, land and equipment. The OPDA borrowed $4.2 million from the state under the Energy Freedom program to build the facility. The out- standing balance due to the Washington State Department of Agriculture is roughly $3.5 million, Rasmussen said. Contact info@odessapda. com for more information. Washington chooses Idaho official to lead wildlife agency New hire spent more than 30 years with Idaho department ROP-2-3-5/#8 The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission on Sat- urday picked Jim Unsworth, deputy director of the Ida- ho Department of Fish and Game, to head the Washing- ton Department of Fish and Wildlife. Unsworth, 57, will re- place Phil Anderson, who an- nounced in August he would leave the post. The commission inter- viewed eight candidates in December and announced its decision at a meeting in Tum- water. “After a thorough nation- wide search, we’re confident Jim is the right person to guide the department through the many challenges that lie ahead,” the commission’s chairwoman, Miranda Weck- er, said in a written state- Courtesy photo Jim Unsworth, deputy director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, has been picked to direct the Washington Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife. ment. “His solid understand- ing of natural resource issues and strong leadership skills will be invaluable in the de- partment’s effort to manage and protect the fish and wild- life resources that are so im- portant to the people of this state.” As director, Unsworth will report to the commission and manage a department with more than 1,600 employees and a biennial operating bud- get of $376 million. His annu- al salary will be $146,500. Unsworth has spent more than 30 years in wildlife man- agement with the Idaho De- partment of Fish and Game and has served as deputy di- rector for the agency since 2008. He previously held several management positions for the department, including wildlife bureau chief and state big game manager. Unsworth holds a bache- lor’s degree in wildlife man- agement from the University of Idaho, a master’s degree in fish and wildlife management from Montana State Universi- ty and a doctorate in forestry, wildlife and range sciences from the University of Idaho. “I’m thrilled at this op- portunity,” Unsworth said in a written statement. “I look forward to taking on the many exciting challenges that come with managing fish and wild- life in the state of Washing- ton.” Unsworth and his wife, Michele, have four adult chil- dren. He is an avid hunter and angler.