Farm Bureau Policies 2022
expenditures are controlled. All levels of governmentmust exercise strict economy, eliminateduplicationof effort, promoteoperational efficiency andundertakeonly thoseprograms appropriate for each level of government. To accomplish these budgetary goals in California a constitu- tionally imposedgovernment spending limit is essential.However, the current limitationmust be flexible enough to reflect the state’s economic growth because much of our prosperity depends on continued investment in public infrastructure. Federal and state governments should remain fiscally respon- sible for anymatching fund-typeprograms as longas theprograms continue to be in effect. In determining compensation for public employees, all factors including wages, vacations, medical benefits, job security and retirement should be considered and performance evaluations should be standardized. Taxes should be fairly, broadly and openly imposed and effi- ciently collected. The taxpayer should have a fair and speedy ap- peals system. The taxpayer should be afforded the right to be presumed in- nocent of any wrong doing or error in the calculation of tax pay- ments. The burden of proof should rest with the government not the taxpayer. The taxpayer should always have the right to deduct expenses related to defending oneself in a tax dispute. The tax system should be structured in a manner such that all citizens canmake adirect contribution toward the support of vari- ous levels of government. Governmental operations related to the protection of the pub- lic health, safety and welfare should be funded through general tax revenues. Whenever possible the levyingof newor increased taxes should be contingent uponadeterminationmade by those persons upon whom the tax is imposed. Fines levied by a regulatory agency should not be used to fund the agency but should be credited to the general fund. Further, agencies that are suedby any entity shouldbe required topay their settlement costs including thepayment of attorney fees from their operating budget. B. In Lieu Taxes All government-owned enterprises and properties should be required to fund their equitable share of the services provided by local governments and special assessment districts through the imposition of payments in lieu of taxes or other means. We strongly support the policies that require the federal gov- ernment to pay annually into each county or local treasury an amount of money that fully compensates local government for the economic activities and property taxes lost because the land is in federal ownership. The first revenue source used for payment of these “in lieu” taxes should be from the money received by the federal land management agency from the uses and/or sale of products from these lands. Payment of “in lieu” taxes to local government for state owned land should not be discretionary. These payments should be on appraised fair market value or the purchase price and indexed according to Proposition 13. Unpaidinlieutaxesshouldbesubjectedtolistingonthedelinquent tax role, assessment of interest andpenalties, and auctioning off the propertyby thecounty if unpaidafter theappropriate timeperiod. C. Property Tax Exemptions Agricultural land that is acquired by nonprofit entities should not be eligible for a property tax exemption if it is taken out of production. D. Tax Loss Reimbursement All governmental entities acquiringproperty shouldbe required to satisfy existing tax liens or levies on such property and should be further required to provide for the assumption of the bonded or other long-term indebtedness imposed by other governmental agencieswhen thepropertywas consideredas abase for theamor- tization of the indebtedness. E. Bonded and Long-TermDebt The two-thirds voter approval requirement for local, general obligations bonds, with the exception of school facility construc- tionbonds, is aconstitutional requirement.Government, however, has the authority, through lease-purchase and the joint exercise of powers, to circumvent this protection to property owners. The result of utilizingother debt obligationprocedureshasbeen to increase the total amount required for aproject because general obligationbondsusuallybeara lower rate than jointpoweror lease- purchasing financing. Any bonded or other long-termpublic indebtedness, or com- mitments containing annual renewal options, shouldbe approved by the electorate or incurred only with the limitations that have been established by them. In recognitionof government fundingof projectswithnovote at all, we believe that any real property acquisition or improvement
(3) Eligibility for the programs should be only to a proven legal resident with a valid Social Security number; (4) Those households that receive income ofmore than 150 per- centof theNationalMinimumWageshouldnotbeeligible forSNAP; (5) Students as a category should be eliminated as individuals eligible for SNAP; (6) Strikers should be prohibited from accessing SNAP. Food purchased with SNAP benefits should not be allowed to be re- turned for cash; and (7) Implementation should be streamlined to reduce costs. We support more aggressive enforcement of SNAP regulations to eliminate fraud and abuse. (Rev. 2012) No. 610 World Hunger WebelieveCaliforniashoulduseitsagriculturalproductioncapac- itytohelpmeet thegoalofeliminatingworldhunger.Thiswill result in: (1) Improvement of the quality of life for all people; (2) Reduction of political tensions that lead to war and the ex- pense of war; and (3) Strengthening the state’s economy through thedevelopment of agricultural markets. International trade in food, grain and livestock products will continue to play a major role in relieving the pressure of supply/ demand imbalances. We support: (1) Securing a commitment from the federal government to provide leadership in combating world hunger; (2) Increasing the commitment to P.L. 480 and other conces- sional sales programs; and (3)Maintaining the reputation of the United States as a reliable supplier of food for the hungry of other countries. Agricultural leadership at all levels shall seek to promote the necessary partnership between the public, government and in- dustry tobringanend tohunger andchronicmalnutrition. As food producers, we should become more involved in how tax monies are spent on food programs. (Rev. 2009)
boards not covered by the California Administrative Procedures Act should be enforceable until they have been submitted back to and approved by an elected body. No. 655 Voter Registration Requirements No person should be permitted to vote in any election in any community where he/she has not been a bona fide resident for at least thirtydays. Voters shouldnot beallowed toregisteronelection days for theelectionbeingheld. Toassure residency and toprevent multiple registration, some identification should be utilized as a standard to check voter registration in California. We recommend that national election projections on election day not be released to the public until all polls are closed. Acommon language is essential to theUnitedStates of America, and an understanding of our language is a requirement for natu- ralization. Therefore, we urge elimination of a requirement for bilingual ballots in every public election. (Rev. 1993) No. 656 Termination of Government Agencies During the annual state budget process, all government agen- cies or activities should be reviewed. If the value of their activities and/or services does not justify their cost, they should be modi- fied or terminated. (Rev. 2009) No. 657 Local vs. State Jurisdiction Weurge thestateofCalifornia to takeprompt legal actionagainst local governments that adopt ordinances and regulations that are outside their jurisdiction. (1988) No. 658 Litigation We support strengthening provisions in the Code of Civil Procedure relative to the awarding of expenses, attorney fees, and punitive damages to individuals subjected to bad faith legal action or to tactics that are frivolous or solely intended to cause unnecessary delay in the course of a legal action. Specifically, we support broadening the definition of “frivolous” to mean without merit or for the purpose of harassing an opposing party. We support tort reform. This reform effort should include, thoughnot be limited to, a capon the amount of damages that can be awarded for non-economic loss. If a government agency, or subdivision thereof, brings an en- forcement actionagainst aprivate citizen, and the citizenprevails, he should be entitled to attorney fees and cost of suit. (Rev. 1996) No. 659 Public Hearings Any public hearings affecting agriculture should be sched- uled by the government agencies in areas impacted by the pro- posed regulations. For changes in federal regulations, publication in the Federal Registerdoesnotprovidesufficientnoticeforaffectedparties.Federal agencies shoulddistribute any changes in regulation toaffectedpar- tiesororganizationswithan interest in thechanges. Inaddition, they shoulddocument thedistributionof these regulations. (Rev. 2001) No. 660 Freedom of Information Act The Freedomof Information Act and State Public Records Act are valuable tools for the collection of information from state and federal agencies. State and federal agencies should respondwithin their statutory deadlines to all requests for information. The Freedom of Information Act should not apply to anyone participating in federal conservation programs. Information contained in farm and ranch plans should be exempt from the Act. (Rev. 2005) No. 661 State Legislative Districts We believe that State Senatorial Districts should be based on the geographical boundaries of the counties within the State of California and that no one county or portion thereof should be represented bymore than one Senator. (2020).
Philosophy of Government
No. 651 Economic Productivity
We support laws, rules, regulations, actions andeconomicpoli- cies which encourage productivity, and oppose those which do the opposite. We support educational programs or other avenues which in- form the public on these issues. The federal, state and county agencies that enforce laws and regulations onaparticular subject shoulddesignate among them- selves theone thatwill take the lead toenforce themineachcounty; preferably, that agency shouldbe themost local one. (93/Rev. 2010) No. 652 Political Action for Farmers We strongly encourage the agricultural community to make a personal commitment byparticipatingon local, state andnational policy-making boards and committees. We urge our members to work closely with their elected rep- resentatives in government, advising them and keeping them in- formed of producers’ problems and needs, including suggestions on legislation. (Rev. 2009) No. 653 Initiative and Referendum The people of a state should have the fundamental right to re- serve to themselves the power to legislate through the initiative and referendumprocesses, and such power must not be usurped or impaired by any branch of government. The initiative process should not be abused or used to circum- vent public discussion during the legislative process. Initiatives proposedby the Legislature shouldhave clearly defined language, subject matter and intent. The single-subject requirement should be strengthened for all initiatives. The Legislature should be required to determine specific ex- penditure allocations when spending initiatives are approved by the voters. (Rev. 2009) No. 654 Legislation by Due Process We believe a basic principle of democracy is that laws should onlybemadebypublicofficialswhoare subject toavoteof thepeo- ple.Wherever practical, the responsibility for enacting laws should be returned to elected officials. No directives of commissions or
Monetary and Tax
No. 701 Government Finance
A. General The people of this nation are carrying an excessive burden of both public debt and taxes fromwhich there can be no relief until
January 26, 2022 Ag Alert 37
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