FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2010
Contact: Jill Bader (414) 453-2010
Email: Jillb@scottwalker.org
Twitter: @JillBader
Walker: “I’ll End Permitting Delays for Farmers”
Walker Would Reduce Taxation, Regulation Burden on Family Farmers
See Walker’s Plan HERE
Wauwatosa – Today, Scott Walker, Milwaukee County executive and candidate for governor, released his plan to help Wisconsin’s family farmers restore our proud agricultural tradition. As governor, Walker would introduce legislation to require state agencies to review permits within 60 days. If the permit is not approved or denied within 180 days, the application will be presumed to be approved.
“Our family farmers work too hard to have their livelihood put in jeopardy by a heavy-handed bureaucracy that doesn’t put farmers first,” said Walker. “One way we can help is to reduce the wait time for farm applications. I’ve heard horror stories about delays of a year or more from farmers around Wisconsin. As governor, I’ll support legislation to require state agencies to review permits within 60 days. If the application is not approved or denied by the state agency within 180 days, the application will be presumed approved.
“We will also work to lower taxes and regulations across the board, so that farms can continue to create jobs and help our economy.”
Recently, Walker was endorsed by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, the Dairy Business Association, and the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association.
Highlights of Walker’s plan include:
- Lowering Taxes on the Family Farm
o A comprehensive review of all tax policies that impact farmers.
o Eliminating tax barriers to production.
o Opposing any efforts to weaken Wisconsin’s “Use Value” law.
- Making Government Accountable to Farmers
o Refocusing government to be a resource for farmers, not simply a regulator of them.
o Require state agencies to review permit applications within 60 days of receipt and approve or deny them within 180 days or else they will be presumed approved.
o Ensuring that funds created for specific purposes, such as the Ag Chemical Management Fund and the Ag Chemical Cleanup Program, are not raided to pay for other programs.
o Ensuring that at least one of the members of the Natural Resources Board comes from an agricultural background.
- Farming for the Next Generation
o Working with members of Congress to end its crippling effects on Wisconsin farmers.
o Strengthening public/private partnerships that will incorporate 21st century innovations into best practices standards.
o Supporting tax incentives aimed at modernizing the farms.
o Continuing to invest in our state’s infrastructure to ensure farmers can move their products to market for years to come by preventing raids to the Transportation Fund.
- Focus on the Farm, Not the Courtroom
o Supporting improvements to Wisconsin’s “Right to Farm” law.
o Reforming our legal system so that property rights of farmers and all landowners across the state are protected.
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Paid for by Friends of Scott Walker, John Hiller, Treasurer
