Legislative Review Fall Session Opens with a Replay Agenda
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MICHIGAN FARM BVREAV ••• FAMILY OF COMPANIES callI (800) 292-2680 extension 3239/3240 ...,. (fj)~---::g:;, .available in some counties BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CALL IN SICK VOL. 65 NO.8 October 1988 MACMA HOLIDAY RURAL LIVING CITRUS SALE MICHIGAN FARM NEWS A Publication of the Michigan Farm Bureau FREE Baker's About the Cover Special. Mi!:higan's U-Pick Markets are both aJun andfruitJul activityJor the wlwleJamUy. U-pi!:ks are close to lwme and a pleasant 2 1/2 lb. APPLE SLICES, way to sepnd an autwnn day. individually quick frozen, Jonathan, Cover art by Ray Hilton. citric acid and Vitamin C added to prevent browning. 2 1/2 lb. RED TART PITTED CHERRIES, individually quick frozen in a strong plastic storage Of Special Interest bag. The People's Choice Be prepared for the Nov. Receive both of the above 8 General Election by reviewing the key issues and voting when you purchase $100 records of incumbents used by MFBAgriPac in making worth of frozen fruit and/or "Friend of Agriculture" endorsements ....page 5 vegetables. U-Pick Harvest You and your family can enjoy a plentiful harvest of food and fun at U-Pick Markets like Order Deadline for The Country Mill in Eaton County ....page 9 HOLIDAY CITRUS SALE Rural Leader Newsletter Read this special NOVEMBER 16, 1988 section of news and information about issues that affect Delivery: December 5-16, Farm Bureau and the families who make their living in 1988 the state's second largest industry -- agriculture. Rural Living Is Published Quarterly: on the first day of October, January. April and Contact your County Farm July by the Michigan Farm Bureau Information and Public Relations Division. Publication and editorial offices at 7373 West Saginaw Highway, Lansing, Mich. 48917, Post Office Box 30960 (zip 48909); phone Bureau for more information or 517-323-7000, extension 6585. MACMA at 1-800-292-2680 Subscriptions: $1.50 per year to members. included in annual dues. $3.00 per year non-members in Michigan, $5.00 per year non-members out of state. Publication No. 345040. Established Jan. 13, 1923 as Michigan fbrm News, name changed to Michigan fbnn News Rural Living Dec. 1. 1981. Third-class For information on the HOLIDAY postage paid at Lansing, Michigan. and at additional mailing offices. Editorial: Connie Turbin, Editor and Business Manager; Donna Wilber, Contributing editor; Kimberly GIFT PACK, DIRECT SHIP Marshell Neumann, Associate Editor and Production Manager. PROGRAM, See p. 8. Officers: Michigan Farm Bureau President. Jack Laurie, Cass City; Vice President, Wayne Wood, Marlette; Adminstrative Director, Charles Burkett; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Tom Parker; Secretary, William S. Wilkinson. Directors: Dlstrlct I, Marlin Outman, Constantine; DIstrict 2, Blaine VanSickle, Marshall; Distrlct 3, Dillne Homing, Manchester; District 4, Charleen Thompson, Freeport; Dlstrlct 5, Mark Smuts, Charlotte; District 6, Jack Laurie, Cass City; Dlstrlct 7, Larry Snider, Hart; District 8, Lyle LeCronler, Freeland; District 9, Joshua Wunsch, Traverse City; District 10, Margaret Kartes, West Branch; Dlstrlct 11, Robert Wahmhoff, miCHIGan'S Baraga. At-large: David Conklin, Corunna; Wayne Wood, Marlette; Richard Leach, Saginaw. Promotion and III Education: Janis Sanford, Parma. Young Farmers: Ed Cagney, Scotts. ~ FaRm BeST OCTOBER 1988, RURAL LIVING 3 Legislative Review Fall Session Opens With A Replay Agenda P.A. 116 Revocable Trusts a means to pass the farm on. Ag Budget - The General And Other Issues - Farmes in Those in this situation are receiv- Fund appropriation for 1988-89 PA 116 who have a revocable ing bills to pay back tax refunds is $28,192,400. This is $2.8 mil- trust face a serious problem. The plus interest. The reason being lion less than the 1987-88 treasury department suddenly that the deed shows more than budget. The total budget, which changed policy and decided that one owner and the refund ap- includes federal funds, fees and any refunds should be made plication should be made by other revenue, is $54.9 million, through the single business tax each person. Farm Bureau has which is $2.6 million less than instead of the personal income challenged this regulation last year. FFA and 4-H funding tax. This would usually result in change. remained about the same. This, a much lower refund, and in Rep. Niederstadt, D-Saginaw, as most of the state budget, is some cases none. The IRS recog- introduced H.B. 5839 to resolve very tight. In addition, the state's nizes a revocable trust as no dif- this issue. FB met with treasury agriculture department is re- ferent than an individual. department and House Taxation quired to make discretionary Another serious probelm Committee staff to try to solve reductions of $570.000. The resulting from the treasury these issues by amending the hiring freeze is continued, Le., department's sudden change in law as necessary. The bill is ex- only one person can be hired for procedure is that some fannes pected to be considered during each three vacancies. have other names on the deed as the fall legislative session. A Michigan Department of Agriculture supplemental bill provides an additional $6.1 mil- Environmental Bonds Proposed on lion for the current year. In- cluded was $600,000 for the November Ballot MSU Cooperative Extension and Ag Experiment Station to expand Ballot proposals "C" and "D" funds for water pollution clean- the EMATprogram and other will be on the November ballot. up. drought related services to They comprised an $800 mil- Up to $25 million would be farmers. The teams provide aid lion bonding to be used for for the Great Lakes Protection to farm families in the areas of various environmental Fund. Up to 10% could be used finance, stress management and problems. for economic development. This future planning. The bonding approval is split would include developments School Finance Program - It into two ballot issues. connected with environmental is now definite that this issue Proposal C contains $660 projects. will not be on the November bal- million for environmental Proposal D contains $140 lot. It may be a special election protection. This includes the million for public recreation. in March or April of 1989. clean-up of Michigan's 1,800 Seventy million dollars would However, the Legislature should toxic waste sites, some of which be used for renovation of state pass the proposal by December have been found in farming parks and facilities. Another 31, 1988, to be placed on a areas. All of them threaten $70 million would be allocated spring ballot. ground water quality. Up to for local use. The Michigan This was a maj or issue $425 million would be used for tourist industry continues to throughout the entire session. this purpose. grow, creating a large number Dozens of proposals and varia- The proposal also contains ofjobs and generating a great tions were considered by regular $150 million to be used for deal of state and local revenue and special committees. As the solid waste projects which from out -of-state tourists. session ended, the issue was could include incineration, recy- This bond package "has had before a conference committee of cling, and other techniques to months of negotiations by legis- senators and representatives. handle the growing problem of lative committees. Agreement SJR "K",the finance proposal landfills which are an issue in was reached by splitting the is- that must be approved or every county. Farmers are often sues. The Legislature returned rejected by the voters, was the affected by landfill problems. on Sept. 7 and in less than 2 main issue. Some of the tentative A Clean Water Revolving hours. overwhelmingly passed agreements were: Fund would receive up to $60 both proposals in order to have million, which in turn will them on the November ballot. (continued on page 19) generate $365 million in federal 4 RURAL LIVING, OCTOBER 1988 Sorne pundits say that 1983. Farm Bureau favored a no Senate passed the amendment Americans don't become inter- vote. October 9, 1985. Farm Bureau ested in the election until The 1981 Farm Bill Amendments favored a yes vote. last out of the World Series is (H.R 4072) -- Vote on passage of Cargo Preference (S. 1714) -- recorded. With the baseball a bill to reduce 1984 and 1985 Vote on amendment to exempt season now lasting until nearly. target prices for wheat and freeze government -generated commer- Halloween, that is clearly too late. the 1985 target price for corn at cial agricultural exports from In contrast, it is never too the 1984 level, set terms for a cargo preference requirements early for farmers to bone up on 1984 and 1985 wheat acreage that one-half of such exports be the issues of this year's cam- reduction program, require a carried on U.S.