Farm Bureau Legislative Luncheon

Patti & Steve Cash along with Keith Berry from Putnam County met with Rep. Jim Baird, and Senators Connie Lawson and Richard Bray at Wed. Indiana FB Luncheon. We will be talking again at our local Putnam County Farm Bureau Legislative Update session on Jan. 15th at 8 a.m. in our FB Boardroom at 1001 N Jackson St. in Greencastle.

Record Turnout for Farm Bureau Legislative Lunch 01/05/2011by Gary Truitt

Wednesday was opening day for the Indiana General Assembly, and Indiana Farm Bureau members gathered at the Statehouse to meet and greet their lawmakers. In what has become a tradition on the first day of the new legislative session, a lunch with lawmakers and farmers was held. IFB president Don Villwock told HAT that this year the turnout was tremendous, “We have over 300 farmers here to have lunch with their Senators and Representatives and discuss some of our legislative priorities.” Topping the list of priorities is the issue of local government reform. Villwock said Farm Bureau supports changes that will make local government more efficient, but is opposed to doing away with county commissioners and township trustees as the governor has proposed. Farm Bureau feels this would weaken the voice rural residents have in local government, “We have very progressive local governments across the state with county councilmen and township trusties who are in touch with what is going on in their area. We think a government that is closer to the people is the best form of government.” The Kernan-Shepard Commission has recommended the abolishment of the township form of government in favor of a single county executive. State Senator Ed Charbonneau (R), whose 5th district includes Starke, as well as portions of Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph, Jasper, Marshall, and Pulaski Counties, says the issue of local government reform divides urban and rural interests, “I have both rural and urban areas of my district and try and find a way to balance the interests of both groups.” Charbonneau, himself a Farm Bureau member, was attending his 4th legislative lunch and said the chance to visit with Farm Bureau members and get feedback on key issues was very helpful. Livestock agriculture, the state budget, immigration, limited liability for agritourism, and taxes are among the other high priority issues for Farm Bureau this session.