The State Grange Executive Committee, working within the regulations in the National Grange Digest of Laws and the State Grange Constitution & Bylaws, have changed from an annual state convention with all of it’s social activities and events to a two-day business meeting. The meeting will be held on June 24-26.

As with last year, attendance will be limited at each location. Delegates, state officers, and deputies will have until June 1 to pre-register. After June 1, additional members may pre-register for available spaces by calling the State Grange Office. There will be an opportunity for those not physically present to observe the session via zoom.

There are two location for this year’s business meeting. Those locations include Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Port Townsend. This was our original site for the convention. The Eastern Washington location will be at the BeeHive Grange Hall, just outside of Wenatchee in Chelan County. The two locations will be connected via zoom. Face coverings (masks) will be required for all attendees and will be available for those without one. Each location will also have an ample supply of hand sanitizer available. Temperature checks will be taken. We are required to practice social distancing. The two locations will allow us to spread the delegates out.

Lodging: While many delegates will be able to commute to the locations, some delegates will be required to stay overnight in the area. If you desire to stay in a hotel or campground, you will need to make your own reservation. There are ample lodging facilities in the Port Townsend area and in the Wenatchee area.

Business Meeting: With us at different locations, we will be holding a business meeting only. We will not open in full form. Rather, we will do an abbreviated short form opening and closing. We will not sing, but we will recite the pledge of allegiance. Roll call of officers will be taken. The credentials committee will report as usual. The Master’s Address will be presented. The remainder of the business meeting will include the report of session committees and the election and installation of state officers.

Credentials: The Credentials Form was included in the Secretary handbook. A revised form will be mailed to each Grange Secretary. The Committee Preference Form is on the back of the credentials form. Your Grange will need to select your delegates and/or alternates. The credentials form must be received back in the State Grange Office no later than June 15. As everyone must be pre-registered, credentials forms will not be accepted after this date or on-site.

Session Committees: The session committees are composed of the delegates and officers. Officers who are not delegates may be appointed to a committee. All committee meetings will be prior to the convention via Zoom meetings between June 1 and 15. Each committee will review the work assigned to them….standing committee reports, resolutions, etc. Convention Committee Preference Forms need to be returned by May 15 to be appointed to a committee.

Election of Officers: This is a full election year for our State Grange. There will be election committee members at each location helping to coordinate the process. The committee vice chairs will report vote totals to the committee chair, who will add them together and announce the election results. Our system worked well in 2020. It is imperative that we keep the integrity of our election processes intact.

We hope you will understand and work with us as we continue wading through these uncharted waters. With patience, creativity, and extra effort, we will be able to complete our business and move forward. We certainly hope for a face-to-face convention in 2022!

After a lengthy and serious discussion, the Washington State Grange Executive Committee has decided to cancel the 2021 Junior Grange Camping Program. After reading written comments from four and the six camp directors, there was a great deal of concern over social distancing and mask requirements. In addition, several camps expressed concern over the additional number teen counselors and adult staff that would be required to conduct the camp activities and the financial feasibility to operate the camps with the additional staff members.

The Junior Grange Camping Program will be back in 2022, bigger and stronger than ever!

Partisan Politics Have No Basis In The Grange

By Tom Gwin
State Grange
Master/President

We have been working through one of the most tumultuous times in our nation’s history. There is little common ground between the two major political parties. As both sides become more polarizing, we can only hope to overcome these political opinions that do nothing more than tear our nation and communities apart.

The National Grange Declaration of Purposes, originally adopted in the late 1800’s and readopted in 2014, is quite clear on the Grange’s non-partisan stance:

The Grange – Non-Partisan

We emphatically and sincerely assert the oft-repeated truth taught in our Constitutional Law, that the Grange – National, State, Pomona, or Subordinate – is not a partisan or party organization.

The principles we teach underlie all true statesmanship. And if properly carried out, will tend to purify the whole political atmosphere of our country; for we seek the greatest good to the greatest number.

We must always bear in mind that no one, by becoming a Patron of Husbandry, gives up that inalienable right and duty which belongs to every American citizen, to take a proper interest in the politics of one’s country.

On the contrary, it is right for every member to do all in his or her power, legislatively, to influence for good the action of any political party to which he or she belongs. It is reserved by every Patron, as the right of a free citizen to affiliate with any party that will best carry out his or her principles.

We acknowledge the broad principle that difference of opinion is no crime and hold that “progress toward truth is made by differences of opinion,” while “the fault lies in bitterness of controversy.”

We desire a proper equality, and fairness; protection for the weak; restraint upon the strong; in short, justly distributed power. These are American ideals, the very essence of American independence, and to advocate the contrary is unworthy of the sons and daughters of our Republic.

We cherish the belief that sectionalism is, and of right should be, dead and buried with the past. Our work is for the present and the future. In our agricultural fraternity we shall recognize no North, no South, No East, no West.

These powerful words from the National Grange Declaration of Purposes have guided us for well over 100 years. This has proven to be our staying power. Few other organizations have the longevity and history of our organization. Part of that staying power can be attributed to our non-partisan stance.

Because we are issue oriented, it is expected of Grange members that we educate ourselves and our Brothers and Sisters with facts on every political topic imaginable. Many times, the Grange Lecturer will take the lead and assign members to research a topic and to share their research with their fellow members. We have to be sure that we research all aspects of each topic, present it to the members, and let each member decide for themselves where we go on the topic. Where we can find commonalities, we can develop policy for the Grange. If we don’t find common grounds, maybe it best to leave that topic alone and move on to a new topic.

Part of this is the beauty of being a grassroots organization. Our legislative policies all start at the Subordinate (local) level and work their way up to the Pomona (county or area), State and National levels.

As a Grange member for over 45 years, I cannot tell you the political party affiliation of the members of my own Grange. Their political affiliation is not my business and my political views are not their business. We do, however, share the common goal of making our community safer and a better place for our residents. We may not always agree on how to accomplish that goal, but we do respect each other and compromise in our efforts for the benefit of all.

Once we stop looking at all aspects of a subject, we will lose the trust of our communities. When a Grange loses the trust of its community, it will begin to falter, thus becoming unable to work together and respect each other. Many times, it is the beginning of the end for that individual chapter.

By keeping the eye of the mind open, we will continue to be active in the political arena, but also remain a non-partisan organization that works to educate and elevate our citizens. My best wishes to you as we work together for the betterment of our communities, towns, cities, state, and nation.

Revenue Projections Are Up $3.2 Billion Over Expectations

By Heather Hansen
Legislative Lobbyist

Spring is a time for optimism. Optimism got a big boost with the state revenue forecast in mid-March.

Revenue projections are up $3.2 billion over expectations for the next four years. The feared shortfall from COVID-19 didn’t happen.

General Fund revenues are now projected to be $56.6 billion for the next two-year state budget cycle, which begins July 1, 2021.

The increase in projected revenues would leave the state with a net surplus of nearly $3 billion at the end of current biennium on June 30, 2021.

The state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council did acknowledge there are still dark spots. Some sectors of the economy have not recovered and unemployment is still high. But all total, the new 2021-23 budget could be written without deep cuts or new taxes.

In spite of the revenue projections, the Senate passed a capital gains tax that would charge a 7% tax on profits of more than $250,000 from selling stocks, bonds and other assets, with exemptions for real estate, retirement accounts and timber. The sale of most farmland should be exempt, but confusing language that was added at the last-minute leaves that somewhat questionable. The bill is now in the House of Representatives.

History shows that once a tax has passed, it is usually increased over time and often expanded in scope. Governor Inslee proposed a capital gains tax on profits over $25,000, so that already signals the wiliness to broaden the tax to apply to more people.

Then there is the constitutional question. The Washington State Supreme Court has interpreted the Washington State constitution to prohibit an income tax. The IRS, and every state that has a capital gains tax, considers a capital gains tax to be an income tax. It is passes, there will most likely be an initiative allowing the voters to make the final decision.

While we’re on the subject of policies that make it more expensive to live in Washington State, the House passed HB 1091 which would create a low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS). If it passes the Senate, the LCFS could drive the price of gas up by as much as 57 cents a gallon, and diesel as high as 63 cents a gallon, without generating any new revenue for transportation projects. The California Legislative Analyst’s Office has recommended the California Legislature amend or eliminate their low-carbon fuel standard because it produces very little air quality benefit.

There are some bright spots in the session. 2SSB 5045 would expand opportunities for meat and poultry processing and inspection. The bill creates a state Meat and Poultry Processing and Marketing Assistance Program. It directs the Washington State Department of Agriculture to work with USDA to negotiate a cooperative agreement to operate a state meat and poultry inspection program. It directs the State Conservation Commission to establish a grant program to provide funding for meat and poultry processing facilities in conservation districts. This creates more opportunities for both producers and consumers.

ESSB 5172 would protect agricultural employers from retroactive claims for overtime pay. It was one of the last bills to pass the Senate before house of origin cutoff. As passed, it provides protection from retroactive overtime claims for all agricultural employers except those involved in the original lawsuit. It provides overtime pay for hours worked over 40 hours in a week to dairy employees upon the effective date of the bill. It phases-in overtime pay to all other agricultural employees beginning on January 1, 2022, with the employees receiving overtime for hours worked over 55 hours in a week and ending with those employees receiving overtime for hours worked over 40 hours in a week beginning January 1, 2024. The bill still does not address seasonality, but more changes are expected as the bill moves through the House.

2SSB 5362 which would increase funding for agricultural fairs is still moving. This is the fourth year this bill has been introduced. In past years, budget committee chairs, the State Treasurers office and the Department of Revenue all expressed concerns. This year, it appears the influx of cash from tax revenues and federal stimulus may allow it to pass.

Proposes budgets are expected out soon. The last day of the legislative session is April 25.