Lawmakers, agricultural and food industry leaders encourage rejection of governors short-sighted E.O.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
LANSING — Lawmakers today heard from leaders of the agricultural, food and business communities who oppose the governor’s Executive Order that minimizes the responsibilities of the nonpartisan Michigan Commission of Agriculture.
Warning that her plan could harm the agriculture industry, one of the state’s few successful economic sectors, the group testified at a joint hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and the Senate Agriculture and Bioeconomy Committee, chaired by Sen. Cameron S. Brown and Sen. Gerald Van Woerkom respectively.
“This independent commission understands Michigan agriculture and the need for real-world considerations in the policy and regulatory decisions of the Michigan Department of Agriculture,” said Brown, R-Fawn River Township. “The governor’s short-sighted Executive Order would not achieve efficiencies or realize cost-savings, but would instead threaten the agricultural industry that is contributing more than $70 billion to the state’s struggling economy.”
Participants expressed support for Senate Concurrent Resolution 24, sponsored by Sen. Wayne Kuipers, which rejects the governor’s Executive Order because it would remove the Michigan Agriculture Commission as head of the MDA causing a loss of accountability and collaboration.
“State government should be working toward increased transparency, not moving away from this important goal,” said Kuipers, R-Holland. “The Michigan Commission of Agriculture is an excellent model of a system that is open and accountable to the industry and residents it serves.”
Since 1921, the commission has provided public oversight for the agriculture industry in Michigan. The governor’s E.O. removes significant responsibilities, including selection of the director and review of rules and regulations.
“The commission has helped select MDA directors who have had a strong understanding of and appreciation for Michigan’s agriculture industry for nearly 90 years,” said Van Woerkom, R-Norton Shores. “The governor should rethink her plan so that decisions affecting one of the state’s most important industries will continue to be made in an open manner.”
Individuals and groups that oppose the governor’s changes to the commission, include former MDA directors Dan Wyant and Mitch Irwin; former commissioner Doug Darling; and representatives from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce; Michigan Farm Bureau; Michigan Grocers Association; and Michigan Cattleman’s Association, among others.
“The Michigan Grocers Association believes the MDA should be the standard for all departments as they work well with their stakeholders,” said Linda Gobler, president and CEO of the association. “The agriculture commission understands the needs of Michigan residents from farm to fork. Why would we want to change a process that works so well?”
Doug Darling served on the commission from 1995 to 2007. “As a farm operator in Monroe County and a former commissioner, I do not see any benefit to changing the role of the commission,” Darling said. “The commission oversees a wide range of issues, from food safety to protecting the environment, that affect state residents at all levels of their everyday life. It has been instrumental in advancing Michigan agriculture because of its emphasis on good government and nonpartisan policy making.”
Agriculture is Michigan’s second largest industry and employs more than one million state residents. Having a 12 percent growth rate, the industry is one of the few sectors of the economy that is expanding.
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