Sen. Murray: Immigration reform not easy, but still possible

Comprehensive immigration reform is not going to be easy next year either, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said in a wide-ranging interview Thursday that also touched on U.S. energy policy, education and the recently passed farm bill.

During a sit-down with the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board, Murray said the immigration issue remains challenging and complex, just as it was in 2006 when Congress failed to pass a comprehensive bipartisan proposal. But that does not mean there will be no progress, she said.

"If we have strong leadership in the White House and a sentiment within Congress that we don't have to do the absolute ultimate immediately for everybody. ... I believe we do have a reason to be positive," she said.

On energy policies, Murray said the idea that expanding drilling offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will help lower gas prices is too simplistic. Oil companies are still making profits and have not exhausted their existing drilling options, she said.

"To use this current crisis to just say, well now we should drill offshore or give them more is to me a false option and false choice for the American people," Murray said. "The real issue is that we have got to become energy independent."

The senator also took the opportunity to describe legislation she plans to introduce in September that would provide grants to educational partnerships designed to produce skilled labor. A lack of qualified electricians, carpenters and other skilled laborers is hurting the state's economy, she said. There is no price tag for the proposal yet, she said.

"The fact is there are a lot of kids who are not going to go on to a four-year university who need those skills," Murray said.

Earlier in the day, Murray met in Yakima with Central Washington agriculture officials, who praised her for helping secure $3 billion in this year's farm bill for specialty crops.

In precedent-setting action, Congress included those crops -- such as apples, pears, cherries and asparagus -- in the $280 billion-plus bill, which passed in May.

The funds will go toward research, marketing, technical assistance and expanding the use of fresh fruits and vegetables in schools.

"We're served like never before by the farm bill," said Brenton Roy, a fourth-generation Prosser farmer, who grows wine grapes.

Listen to Sen. Murray’s meeting with the editoral board