Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
OLYMPIA — The potential impacts of new laws raising gas taxes and other environmental issues is unclear.
Whitman County lobbyist Zak Kennedy reported to county commissioners Monday on the April 25 conclusion of the legislative session.
“The best thing about the session is that it’s over,” said Kennedy. “They can’t keep doing what they were doing to us.”
He ran down some of the items which passed, including climate change measures, a capital gains tax, police reform, and more.
“Now we need all the attorneys to wade through the legislation,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy said a question for Whitman County was about the increase in gas taxes.
“What impact does that have on agriculture?” he asked.
He talked about the carbon initiative.
“Is an electric car more eco-friendly than a diesel pickup, considering all that goes into making those electric batteries,” said Kennedy. “The question I’m being asked (by counties) is; how is my life going to get any better And I think that’s something to consider.”
He summarized what the largely virtual, Zoom-based session in Olympia has been like for the past three months.
“In terms of meetings for productivity, it was maybe 10% (as normal),” Kennedy said.
Looking ahead to the 2022 session, he indicated plans will begin for something similar.
County Commissioner Art Swannack asked how many legislators have been vaccinated for COVID-19.
Kennedy said there are some but it is not public due to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HPPA) laws.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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