For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON STATE GRANGE ENDORSES REFERENDUM 51

Issued: June 28, 2002

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Everett-Delegates at the annual convention of the Washington State Grange voted June 28 to endorse Referendum 51, the statewide transportation improvement plan on the ballot for the November election.

"Our highways and rails are badly in need of improvements," said State Grange President Terry Hunt, "and R-51 is a first step that will address some of those problems."

Hunt said the 9-cent gas tax increase, 1% surcharge on vehicle purchases and 30% increase in weight fees for trucks over 10,000 lbs. constitute a tough pill to swallow but is necessary after an 11-year span without a gas tax increase.

More than 300 Grange delegates attending the convention affirmed that rural Washington would suffer under statewide regional plans presented as an alternative to R-51.

According to statistics from the Washington State Department of Transportation, rural counties such as Ferry gain $6.77 for every $1 of revenue put in for transportation, while larger counties such as Pierce receive only $0.67 per $1. Under the alternative regional plan, those rural counties would not receive this necessary funding for their roads.

"The Washington State Grange understands that all people in the state use the roads, and we must all take responsibility for funding our transportation infrastructure," said Hunt. "There hasn't been a gas tax increase since 1991, and inflation and growth have outpaced transportation improvements."

During the five-day convention, the Grange delegates saw presentations on transportation planning and funding, revenue problems and the critical need for infrastructure maintenance and upgrade.

Washington State Grange is a grass-roots, non-profit and non-partisan fraternal organization with its focus on the needs of the residents of rural areas of Washington. The family-based organization was established two months before the Washington Territory achieved statehood. The Grange spearheaded such efforts as Public Utility Districts, rural electrification and mail delivery, the preservation of water rights for family farms, and the blanket primary.

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For more information contact Larry Clark, Communications Director, (360) 943-9911