Wilson County News - Top Stories - Stallman clears the air on cap-and-trade legislation

Wilson County News
October 27, 2009
4 comments

A number of key legislative issues currently are being addressed in the U.S. Congress, with climate-change legislation being the most bothersome to the American Farm Bureau Federation, according to the president of the organization,

Bob Stallman.

He made his views known Oct. 16, as the guest speaker during the 2009 Wilson County Farm Bureau County Convention held in the Wilson County Show Barn in Floresville.

�The potential for a very serious negative impact in the so-called climate-change legislation, Cap and Trade, or you may have heard it as the �cap and tax� legislation,� bothers Stallman the most. He spoke of the Farm Bureau�s new campaign, �Don�t Cap America�s Future.� He encouraged everyone to write �Don�t CAP Our Future� across the bill of a new farm cap and hand-deliver the cap to a member of the U.S. Congress. He emphasized a focus on the Senate, and complimented the efforts of the U.S. senators from Texas, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, for their support on this matter.

Stallman believes all members of Congress did not read the 800-page legislation that will increase the cost of energy, feed, and fertilizer. He predicts a reduction in U.S. food production, because 17 percent of U.S. farmland will be converted to planting trees.

An estimated $200 billion is expected in taxes, due to this legislation. That equals a 15-percent increase in income tax.

Countries such as China and India will not be bound by this regulation, Stallman said.

He questioned the goal set for climate change, predicting what will happen 50 to 100 years in the future, when weather forecasters now predict the weather correctly only one day out of seven.

Another regulatory issue Stallman addressed was the Clean Water Restoration Act. Controversy has arisen from the term �navigable waters� in the original bill. The proposed wording change to �waters of the United States� has Farm Bureau concerned.

If approved, the Environmental Protection Agency�s authority will extend to ditches or mud puddles -- areas that are wet for a few days. These will come under the agency�s jurisdiction.

This legislation, now being considered in the House, is a serious threat to the agriculture industry, he said.

Stallman also briefly addressed the estate tax, or �death tax,� that imposes a tax on transfers of property upon one�s death.

The current law will expire in 2010. The American Farm Bureau Federation is asking for an amendment to extend the current exemption allowed regarding inheritance tax. Farm Bureau is also seeking an increase of the exemption to $5 million.

A second financial issue Stallman addressed was the $12 trillion federal deficit the United States now owes. He asked that Congress stop its current spending habits that have added $1.4 trillion to the debt in this fiscal year alone.

Stallman, a past president of the Texas Farm Bureau organization, spoke briefly on state issues and grass- roots involvement. He urged the members to vote in the upcoming constitutional amendment election Nov. 3, which includes eminent-domain reform measures in Proposition 11.

�The county level is the most important level � and is where it all starts,� Stallman said, on becoming involved.

Following Stallman�s presentation, members of the county Farm Bureau passed a national policy resolution regarding the health-care reform legislation currently being discussed in Congress.

The resolution approved states, �Wilson County Farm Bureau opposes Congress creating a special health-care system for themselves and their staff under the proposed public health-care system currently being debated in Congress. Congress should be covered by the same system as all other citizens.�

Your Opinions and Comments

red flotwn November 3 at 3:03pm	Report Abuse check out drudgereport.com to see article showing how al gore will be first global warming billionaire.

Ritta Rohpe
November 3 at 11:23am

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Climate change, AKA: Global Warming, is a gigantic hoax and anything the government does in it's name should be voted down and the politicians pushing it should be tar and ... Read More

4th Generation Texan
Sutherland Springs
November 3 at 10:37am

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Don't need to read this bill...

Several very knowledgeable people that I respect and trust have read the bill and have sent up Danger Warnings! According to them, this ... Read More

Turbo
Wilson County
October 29 at 8:57pm

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Yes, the congressmen didnt read the bill, and most of us didnt read the bill. Listen to TALK RADIO, sirius Patriot channel and the hosts will be glad to break it down for ... Read More

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