OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State House has passed a bill extending business and occupation tax breaks for dairy, fruit, vegetable and seafood processors.

The bill extending the breaks through 2035 was sponsored by Blaine Democrat Alicia Rule.

“This is practical and necessary bill to keep our local food producers competitive with other states and also internationally,” said Rule. “As a reminder, the food we pull off of our shelves and out of the refrigerated section of the grocery store starts right here in Washington.”

But Seattle Democrat Gerry Pollet spoke in opposition.

“The real question in front of us today for 95 percent of this tax break is whether some of the world’s largest fast food French fry producers, or one of the world’s largest wineries, should pay any occupation and business taxes at all in order to support our children’s education,” said Pollet.

The House passed it as part of a group of bills known in legislative language as “necessary to implement the budget.”