H B conference on ■ ^ | ALTERNATIVE ■ ®J| state and local PUBLIC POLICIES May 1977 Editor : Barbara Bick IN T H IS ISSUE... "Minnesota Farm Loan Fund A Model Act" (p. 2) by Katherine Lerza With the average age of farmers at 50 and the com­ petitive entry level of financing at about $50,000, there is a real question of who the next generation of farmers will be. "Penal Reform: A Matter of W ill" (p. 4) by S. Brian Willson and Andy Hall Beginning in the mid-60's, the most massive wave of prison and jail construction in history continues. "Criminal Justice Tied to Economic Justice" (p. 5) by Richard Hongisto The most peaceful countries in the world are the most libertarian . and have the greatest equitable dis­ tribution of wealth. mm A N « l CONFERENCE SET FOR D E N V E R (p. 7-10) Conference Agenda reflects the critical importance of Carter administration's new domestic policy and pro­ grams to state and local governments. "Alternative Politics in the 8ig Sky County" (p. 12) by Ora J. Halvorson Montana is a target for everyone. But one strong woman carries the issues forward. "Conservatives Renew interest in State and Local Politics" (p. 13) by Lee Webb Money and resources are pouring in to support local Washington D.C. City Councilmember Julius Hobson, innovative legislator, conservative campaigns. social activist nonpareil, dead of leukemia, (sss sîasy psga 3) Minnesota jobs for unemployed Nuclear Safely Bill Massachusetts youth in the A strong new anti-nuclear next year. The jobs would be Farm Loan Fund bill was introduced into the in state promoted and fi­ Massachusetts House by Rep nanced construction projects Richard Roche, Entitled "An including schools, hospitals, — A Model Act Act Relating to Land Use and recreation facilities, day care Nuclear Fission Power Plants centers, residential housing, By Catherine Lerza than that which Minnesota Safety", HB 1200 would lift mass transit, alternative faces. As Susan Sechler and the limits of insurance energy, and marine services In an effort to encourage Susan DeMarco of the liability in case of nuclear ac­ and recycling. Funds for the new farmers to purchase agri­ Agribusiness Accountability cidents and require that those King bill would come from cultural land, Minnesota has Project explained in a recent suffering from nuclear ac­ increases in the taxes on enacted a Family Farm article in THE ELEMENTS, cidents be compensated fully stocks and bonds over the Security Act (see Newsletter "With the average age of far­ for their losses. Under the amount of $150,000, a raise 4) which guarantees bank mers at 50 and the com­ Price-Anderson Act of 1956 in the tax of property assets loans to farmers seeking to petitive entry level of finan­ passed by the U.S. Congress over the amount of $250,000, buy land. The cost of prime cing for new farmers at about there is a top limit of $560 and a raise in the tax of cor­ midwestern farm land has $50,000, there is a real million on the amount that porate profits over the tripled over the last five question of who the next utilities would be liable for in amount of $100,000. years, with land in Minnesota generation of farmers will case of a nuclear accident. now selling for about $1200 be." Minnesota's new fund is Another part of the bill BaUered Women Bill to $1400 per acre. This has an attempt to give small, in­ would create a "nuclear Ad­ made the initial investment in dividual farmers a chance to visory Group" to study the Women beaten by their farm land prohibitive to most compete with capital-rich in­ safety of various nuclear husbands or lovers would, potential farmers. stitutions, corporations and power plant operations, and along with victims of fires The new Minnesota law, banks, for example, who will would have the authority, if and disasters, get priorities in passed in April 1976 and put otherwise be the only buyers the industry wasn't properly emergency public housing if a into operation this past of farm land in the future. protecting the populace of the bill filed recently by February, deals with this Garry says that he receives’ state, to gradually restrict the Massachusetts State Rep dilemma by creating a Family two or three information power plants operations. Elaine Noble is passed. "A lot Farm Security Board which requests about the new •of women will not leave their administers a $10-million loan homes even if they are in­ program every week and that Economic Agenda fund that will guarantee 90% "other states are watching us credibly battered, unless they of bank loans to farmers who closely." He believes that Economic issues promise to know there is a bed for them somewhere," Noble said. might not otherwise be other Midwestern states may be the hottest question con­ eligible for a loan. When a enact similar legislation in the fronting the Massachusetts 'They are victims of a farmer goes to a bank for a next couple of years, depen­ Legislature this year. domestic disaster" she added, loan to purchase farm land ding on the success of this Numerous progressive bills and should be given the same and the bank decides the ap­ program. The only real have been introduced, many aid as victims of natural plicant is not a good credit problem the fund faces is a concerned with banking and disasters. risk without additional finan­ technical one : no nationally- finance, including S. 29 which cial help from the state fund, chartered banks can par­ creates a State Bank for the Fed "Lifeline" Bill the credit application is sent ticipate in the program deposit of state funds; S. 49 State Utility Regulatory to a seven-member Farm because of legal problems which creates an Economic Commissions would be Security Board. The Board, arising from the regulations Development Bank; H. 1363 required to enact "Lifeline" made up of four farmers, two under which the fund which provides for the issuing electric rates if the "Lifeline bankers and an agricultural operates. Until the state of state and municipal bonds Rate Act of 1977", introduced extension agent, reviews the receives a positive decision in small denominations; H. in Congress by Rep William application and determines from the office of the Comp­ 1754 which links deposits of Lehman of Florida wins ap­ whether or not to guarantee troller of the Currency in the state funds to local com­ proval. Under Congressman the loan. Treasury Department, munity investment by the in­ Lehman's bill, state According to Dan Garry, nationally-chartered banks dividual banks; and H. 3141 regulatory commissions director of the program, the will not take part in the loan which establishes a state auto would have to establish the Board puts no age, dollar or program, although state- insurance company. quantity of kilowatt hours acre limits on loans. Each chartered banks will. Two bills are aimed at which is the subsistence level loan is dealt with on an in­ Senator Hubert Humphrey creating jobs. S. 51, filed by for residential use in each dividual basis, Garry ex­ has introduced into the U.S. Sen. Jack Backman and Rep. state. The rate charged for plained, and "repayability is Senate the Family Farm John Businger, would that amount would have to the only limitation." The Security Act of 1977 (S.598) establish the right of every. be the lowest charged to any Board has so far approved to create a federal program Massachusetts resident to class of consumer, thus four loans, denied two and, modelled after the Minnesota meaningful work and would eliminating the breaks pres­ Garry said, “I couldn't even plan. provide $30 million of public ently enjoyed by industrial guess how many applications service jobs funded through and other large users. Copies are on the way." Catherine Lerza is a an expanded lottery system of H.R. 469 car. be obtained Other agricultural states Washington writer and other sources. A bill by from Rep. William Lehman, are faced with land inflation specializing in food and Rep. Mel King, H. 3253, U.S. House of Represen­ as serious, and even worse, agricultural policies would provide some 90,000 tatives, D.C. 20515. 2 Julius Hobson : Champion and Legislator for Human Rights By Barbara Bick A singular legislative legacy was left to the people of the Hobson was a founder of the District of Columbia District of Columbia when City Councilmember Julius Statehood party, which began as a small and seemingly Hobson died of leukemia on March 23, 1977. The nine bills unrealistic group but which today is one of the three major which he submitted to the council in January included a parties of the District. The Home Rule Charter that measure that would make Washington D.C. a city/state, a Congress approved prohibits any one party from holding Youth Employment Act, an Initiative and Referendum Act, more than two of the four At-Large seats. Hobson was and a Non-Criminal Police Surveillance Act. elected twice, representing the Statehood Party, to fill one of the At Large seats. His D.C. Statehood Act would Washington D.C., which was granted a limited form of provide a process for Washington to be admitted into the self-rule only three years ago, has probably the most ac­ Union on an equal footing with the other states. True home tivist city council in the U.S. The 13 member council num­ rule, according to the Statehood Party, would have to see bers 11 blacks and five women.