State's largest farm group endorses governor's reforms

» September 8, 2005 «

To advance its goal of assuring greater government accountability in California, the California Farm Bureau Federation has endorsed Gov. Schwarzenegger's reform package to appear on the November ballot.

The Farm Bureau board of directors endorsed Proposition 74, the governor's Put Kids First Act; Proposition 76, the Live Within Our Means Act; and Proposition 77, the Voter Empowerment Act. Proposition 74 would change teacher-tenure rules, Proposition 76 would enact limits on state budget growth and Proposition 77 would reform the drawing of legislative and congressional election districts.

"Family farmers are committed to improving Californians' faith in the government that's entrusted with ensuring their safety and quality of life," California Farm Bureau President Bill Pauli said. "Governor Schwarzenegger's reforms make significant strides in assuring that elected leaders remember who they work for-the citizens of California."

Pauli said Farm Bureau encourages state budget reform to end excessive government spending that leads to massive state budget deficits and the raiding of county coffers.

"It's time for California to recognize that legislators will never fix their spending problem on their own," he said. "The governor's budget reforms return accountability to a system that has churned out automatic spending increases for too long."

The farm leader noted that redistricting reform would restore fair and competitive elections for California's legislative and congressional seats.

"Because the current system guarantees that incumbents get re-elected, they don't need to be responsive to voters' concerns. That system needs to be scrapped," Pauli said. "Redistricting reform promises to bring a truly representative government that would improve the accountability of elected officials and enhance voter interest in elections.

"Farm Bureau will encourage its members to support this package," he said, "as part of our continuing commitment to help Governor Schwarzenegger reform and streamline California government."

The California Farm Bureau Federation, the state's largest farm organization, works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 87,000 members in the nation's leading agricultural state.

Contact: Dave Kranz
Phone: 916/561-5550
news@cfbf.com

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.