Posted on 02/17/2006 5:14:24 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
It's decision time for Texas once again, as we choose those who will lead our state. For farmers and ranchers, these decisions take on great importance because of our relatively small numbers in comparison with the general population. Despite this obvious fact, Farm Bureau and agriculture have remained very effective in the legislative process.
One reason is AGFUND. We support our friends. Farm Bureau and agriculture stand behind those elected officials who understand our industry and support it in Austin and Washington. In Farm Bureau, political endorsements are made according to a carefully planned, grassroots driven system. The recommendations of AGFUND are elsewhere in this issue of our publication.
These decisions are made by the board of directors based on the voting record of incumbents, the stated positions of candidates and the wishes of county Farm Bureau members and leaders.
That is not to say the process is without controversy. Some of these decisions are very difficult. There are always issues that each of us feels very strongly about. Sometimes folks are very passionate about one issue.
The trouble is the survival of agriculture and farm and ranch families does not hinge on a single issue. Your organization has survived and thrived for more than 70 years because our leaders have always understood that. Agriculture is affected by virtually everything that happens in Austin and Washington.
A seat at the table Farm Bureau is a part of that process because we seek out a seat at the table. We stay at the table because we offer responsible input into the process of governing Texas.We approach the Legislature and Congress each session with an important list of legislative objectives.
The Trans Texas Corridor (TTC) controversy has resulted in a group of people who feel passionately that the Corridor should never be built. Farm Bureau is with them.
TTC is not, however, the only issue with which we have to be concerned. Texas Farm Bureau, since 2004, has been opposed to the Trans Texas Corridor. Our opposition has been strong, vocal and responsible. It will remain so until our delegates change that position.
We will kill it if we can and do our best to implement positive changes in the meantime, as we've already done. That does not mean we can judge elected officials solely on that position. It is a factor, but not the only one.
Great success in Austin During the last session of the Texas Legislature, Farm Bureau was successful in getting a new eminent domain law, securing a higher priority for agriculture in the area of state water rights, protection of agricultural water rights from condemnation, protecting the right to hunt on agricultural land within a city, returning development rights to landowners in the path of the TTC, more compensation for landowners that might lose property to TTC, implementing more control measures for feral hogs and protecting agricultural landowners from some annexation.
This is only a partial list. It was possible because we have chosen to participate in the process. If we had singled out one issue and announced that nothing else mattered, we'd have accomplished little or none of our remaining agenda.
Readers of this issue might conclude that the AGFUND endorsements do not always match those of single issue groups with which you are familiar. We think that Texas is bigger and more important than any single issue.
I hope that all Farm Bureau members and all Texans remember this as you consider on Election Day the future of Texas and the leaders that will guide her.
In any case, the most important action we can all take is to exercise our right to vote. We should all consider the best interests of Texas, voting our convictions, interests and beliefs for the future of our great state.
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
Read: We're weakening and will use TTC "single issue" as an excuse to NOT hold pols feet to the fire.
BTTT
No. That's not what it means.
It means that a candidate that pays lip service to opposing the TTC (read CMKR Strayhorn, for one) can't hoodwink us or count on our votes unless they're also ag-friendly on other vital issues.
Well let's just hope that AgFund will not let up on pressuring Perry. I'm not sure I can even hold my nose and vote for him because of TTC.
Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND announces primary endorsements (02/11/2004)
WACO - The Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND board of directors has announced endorsements for the March 9 primary elections in each party. The endorsements followed a series of County Evaluation Committee meetings and recommendations by County Farm Bureaus.
AGFUND is Texas Farm Bureau's Political Action Fund. It is a legal entity separate from the Texas Farm Bureau and may endorse and contribute financially to political candidates. AGFUND is funded only by voluntary contributions from TFB members.
Here is the complete list.
U.S. Congress
District 3 - Congressman Sam Johnson (R), Plano
District 4 - Congressman Ralph Hall (R), Rockwall
District 7 - Congressman John Culberson (R), Houston
District 10 - Michael McCaul (R), Austin
District 11 - Bill Lester (R), Brownwood
District 24 - Kenny Marchant (R), Coppell
District 25 - Leticia Hinojosa (D), McAllen
District 28 - Henry Cuellar (D), Laredo
District 31 - Congressman John Carter (R), Round Rock
Texas Senate
District 21 - Senator Judith Zaffirini (D), Laredo
District 26 - Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D), San Antonio
Texas House
District 3 - Representative Mark Homer (D), Paris
District 7 - Representative Tommy Merritt (R), Longview
District 11 - Representative Chuck Hopson (D), Jacksonville
District 16 - Representative Ruben Hope (R), Conroe
District 17 - Representative Robby Cook (D), Eagle Lake
District 21 - Representative Allan Ritter (D), Nederland
District 28 - Representative Glenn Hegar, Jr. (R), Katy
District 39 - Representative Miguel Wise (D), Weslaco
District 40 - Eddie Saenz (D), Edinburg
District 41 - Representative Roberto Gutierrez (D), McAllen
District 50 - Representative Jack Stick (R), Austin
District 53 - Representative Harvey Hilderbran (R), Kerrville
District 71 - Representative Bob Hunter (R), Abilene
District 78 - Representative Pat Haggerty (R), El Paso
District 80 - Tracy King (D), Batesville
District 81 - Representative Buddy West (R), Odessa
District 93 - Representative Toby Goodman (R), Arlington
District 95 - Representative Glen Lewis (D), Ft. Worth
District 96- Representative Bill Zedler (R), Arlington
District 120 - Representative Ruth Jones McClendon (D), San Antonio
District 132 - Representative Bill Callegari (R), Katy
District 133 - Representative Joe Nixon (R), Houston
I with you there. I will NOT vote for Perry again, and I'm appalled at the alternatives. Surely Texas can do better.
Thanks for the ping!
You're welcome. :-)
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