Farm Bureau: Machado policies undermine farmland protection

» September 21, 2004 «

In response to Senator Mike Machado's television advertisement and the California Planning and Conservation League's allegations that Stockton Mayor and Republican Candidate Gary Podesto has fast-tracked the development of farmland, California Farm Bureau Federation President Bill Pauli issued the following statement:

"As a member of the state Senate, Mike Machado has consistently supported raising taxes on family farmers and supported laws that hurt the local agricultural economy. Machado supported legislation that would weaken Proposition 13, the voter-approved constitutional amendment that caps property taxes so that family farmers and property owners don't have to worry about losing their property and livelihood to high taxes.

"If Senator Machado were truly interested in protecting local farmland from development, he would not have supported so many laws that make it so difficult for family farmers to make a decent living.

"Local farmers and ranchers are supporting Mayor Gary Podesto for state Senate. Podesto cares about keeping taxes low on farmers and reducing employer mandates. With more leaders like Podesto in the state Legislature, family farmers will create local jobs and protect open space for generations to come."

Counties within the 5th Senate District produce more than $2.3 billion of agricultural products each year.

The California Farm Bureau Federation announced its endorsement of Gary Podesto earlier this month, even though local farmers had supported Machado's previous races. Machado is a former San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation president and currently serves as chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Water Committee.

Contact: Kiran Black
Phone: 916/561-5550
news@cfbf.com

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