House Oks Migrant Housing Bill Senate Approval Expected, But Union Opposes A Portion Of It

Over the loud objection of some farmworker advocates, the governor and Legislature are working out a deal to ease building codes so farmers can build cheaper temporary housing for migrant workers.

At the urging of advocates such as the United Farm Workers union, Gov. Gary Locke vetoed a similar proposal last year, but a top aide, Rich Nafzinger, said Wednesday the governor is trying to negotiate an agreement this year.

This time, though, the disagreement is over money rather than the content of the proposal, which has been agreed upon by all sides.

The United Farm Workers of Washington and their allies issued a blistering statement Wednesday saying they opposed the migrant housing measure, SB 6168, because it wasn’t accompanied by a $2 million-a-year ongoing appropriation to finance construction of permanent housing for farm workers who come to Washington and stay.

Democrat Locke had asked the Republican Legislature for the money, saying it was an important component of the housing proposal. But GOP budget writers said it was too costly.

And now, Nafzinger said, “The governor recognizes that he’s not going to get that (the money).”

At a news conference, Locke said he still was pushing for the $2 million and that a proposal without it was “unacceptable.” But Republican lawmakers said that behind the scenes, the governor’s office is working out a deal. “I’m optimistic,” said Rep. Jim Clements, R-Selah.

The plan, Clements said, is for the Legislature to appropriate $600,000 to be spent on temporary or permanent housing in farm country next year. The amount was tucked into the House version of the budget Tuesday night.

The House on Wednesday passed the housing measure by a vote of 68-30 and sent it back to the Senate for expected concurrence on amendments, including language specifying that $600,000 will be spent on farmworker housing next year.

“I think the governor will sign it,” Clements said.