1. Is this really pork? Wine is a nearly $700 million business in Washington state, and if the Port of Walla Walla (the town so nice, they named it twice) is actually helping business, as opposed to the business climate west of the Cascades in many cases, huzzah for them.

Moreover, the project seems, according to the story, to be sited on no longer needed government land. At least now, it will help pay some taxes. The up or out provision for tenants seems well designed as well.

Though it's apples and oranges, I'd rather see 20 business incubators around the state than the giant handout to Boeing for a manufacturing business that is increasingly outsourced to key congressional districts across the country and overseas.

Posted by: Dave Jackson on August 26, 2005 05:30 PM

2. Dollar update, after a check, it seems that $700 million is the retail value of the wine. The state wine commission claims (probably inflated) a $3 billion impact to the state economy.

Posted by: Dave Jackson on August 26, 2005 05:33 PM

3. Is this really pork?

Yes.

When the government targets investments or even tax-relief exclusively to a select few companies instead of leaving capital allocation decisions to the market place, it is pork.

Posted by: Stefan Sharkansky on August 26, 2005 05:34 PM

4. Which legislator secured that? Not that I am against it, it just seems Walla Walla would be a Red area immune and averse to government hand-outs.

Posted by: CandrewB on August 26, 2005 05:41 PM

5. "But with a $1 million state grant, the Port of Walla Walla plans to build a cluster of small buildings at its airport property to help new wineries get up and running."

I think Stefan is right. If it stated "...to help new BUSINESSES to get up and running", that would be different. Using state funds to build infrastructure and foster and better and more efficient business climate is a noble venture. To restrict the infrastructure to only one industry or business type is bass-ackwards. Why not build the buildings and let the most profitable businesses, whatever they may be, lease them?

Posted by: Larry on August 26, 2005 06:00 PM

6. is it "incubate" or in-tubate?

Posted by: dan on August 26, 2005 06:10 PM

7. That's Queen Christine trying to win favor in parts of the state that hate her.

Posted by: Iguana on August 26, 2005 06:14 PM

8. How is that Port supported? If it's like the Port of Whitman (county), it's tax payer funded. We pay an enormous share of our property taxes to the Pork of Whitman County. In the 20+ years I have lived here, they really haven't done much. Oh wait, they just bought a modest building from a local lawyer for an outrageous amount and remodeled it to house themselves. And they keep stonewalling our reporter when it comes to handing over information discussed at "open" public meetings.
The Port of Walla Walla sounds like they have some really clever grant writer on board. Wish they would come to Whitman County and get the port tax off our property tax bill. Oink.

Posted by: cc on August 26, 2005 07:21 PM

9. Walla Walla is representated by a freshman R and a long-time, 'conservative' D in the House. An R in the Senate. The governor has little influence over these issues. Without knowing the details, it looks like a local score for the electeds.

And yes, it's pork. There's not a district in the state without it.

Posted by: jimg on August 27, 2005 10:37 AM

10. represented

Posted by: jimg on August 27, 2005 10:38 AM

11. jimg is correct.

Posted by: jsa on August 27, 2005 08:16 PM

12. jimg is correct. It had nothing to do with Gregoire.

Posted by: jsa on August 27, 2005 08:17 PM

13. "Yes.

When the government targets investments or even tax-relief exclusively to a select few companies instead of leaving capital allocation decisions to the market place, it is pork."

I disagree. This is one smart thing that government can do with taxpayer dollars.....incubate the economy. Walla Walla is a growing wine producing region and if we can build infastructure that helps develop more, then so be it. I'm a staunch conservative, and while I disagree with VERY LITTLE that you say Stefan, you're wrong on this one.

It's refreshing to see monies spent to actually assist business development.

Posted by: Scott Mu on August 27, 2005 09:17 PM

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