Issue Position: Agriculture

Issue Position

My Agenda:

- Represent south-central Michigan's interests on the House Agriculture Committee

- Be accessible to Michigan farmers and ranchers

- Pass a Farm Bill that allows our farmers and manufacturers to compete and win in the world marketplace without raising taxes

Importance of Farming Communities

A strong farming community is vital to Michigan's economic future and to keeping good-paying jobs in Michigan. Last year alone Michigan's agriculture industry produced roughly $64 billion, and the agriculture industry is vital to our state's economic comeback as Michigan is the second most agriculturally diverse state in the country.

As the lone Michigan member of the House Agriculture Committee, I have a unique opportunity to address the needs of south-central Michigan farmers. I benefited greatly from the two day, seven county Farm Bill Listening Tour I conducted on April 10-11, 2007. The listening sessions, held throughout the 7th district, were open to farmers, producers and anyone affected by the Farm Bill and provided me with unique, first-hand insight on what worked and what did not work in the 2002 Farm Bill.

In the summer of 2007, the House Agriculture Committee worked together, in a bi-partisan fashion, on a new Farm Bill intended to benefit the agriculture community without raising taxes. The committee successfully put aside partisan differences and passed a bill of out committee that met the needs of American farmers without raising taxes. Sadly, House leadership ignored these efforts and instead inserted a 600% tax increase on U.S. subsidiary manufacturers into the 2007 Farm Bil
- Pass a Farm Bill that allows our farmers and manufactl. House leadership's bill would have punished manufacturers who employ 5.1 million American workers and pay $325 billion in wages to American workers.

In May 2008, I voted for a Farm Bill that, without raising taxes, will assist Michigan's family farmers and help the agriculture sector, one of the few bright spots in Michigan's struggling economy, continue to expand and create economic growth in Michigan. This legislation will also help continue Michigan State University's important agriculture research work to develop innovative new products for Michigan's family farmers that will help our locally produced farm products sell worldwide.

Source