George W. Bush 2000 On The Issues
Agriculture
Governor
Bush supports recent efforts to reverse decades of supply control
management and unleash U.S. farmers to plant in response to market
demand, not government programs. But as the farm sector transitions
toward market-driven production, Governor Bush believes the
government should help farmers adapt to the challenges of the global
marketplace as well as work to maintain competitive markets here in
the United States. This means providing farmers and ranchers with a
strong safety net and the means to manage economic downturns, such
as crop insurance reform, tax-deferred accounts, and elimination of
the death tax. It also means opening markets overseas for U.S. farm
products, eliminating agricultural export subsidies and tariffs
worldwide.
Governor Bush’s Approach
Provide a Strong Safety Net: While the 1996 Farm Bill reversed
decades of supply control management, and unleashed U.S. farmers to plant
in response to market demand, a critical component is still missing – a
way for farmers to manage the cyclical downturns in the farm economy.
Governor Bush believes that moving toward a more market-based farm
economy requires a strong safety net.
Support R&D into New Technology: Farmers are on the front lines of
the new “knowledge-based” economy. Advances in technology are leading to
new products, increased productivity, and more environmentally friendly
farming. In order for the U.S. agricultural economy to remain competitive,
Governor Bush believes we must support projects that will generate new
exportable goods.
Common Sense Regulations and Private Property Laws: Governor Bush
understands the importance of our existing food safety requirements, but
also recognizes that burdensome regulations and punitive private property
laws have a real cost impact to the farm economy.
New Leadership on Trade: With 96 percent of the world’s population
living outside of the United States, Governor Bush recognizes that the
future prosperity of the farm sector depends on expanding markets
overseas. The Clinton-Gore Administration is the first in 25 years to
fail to obtain Presidential trade negotiating authority, thus hobbling its
ability to lead new market-opening initiatives. Governor Bush will work
with Congress to restore this authority and reassert U.S. leadership on
trade.
Governor Bush’s Agriculture Proposals
To ensure the continued growth of the U.S. farm sector, Governor Bush
supports:
-
An Integrated Farm
Safety Net:
Governor Bush supports emergency assistance, consistent with the
principles in the 1996 Farm Bill, as needed to ensure that the move
toward a market-oriented farm policy continues. Governor Bush also
believes it is important to swiftly implement the recently passed
crop insurance reform legislation and continue to encourage the
private sector to develop innovative products. To help farmers weather
downturns, he supports tax-deferred Farm and Ranch Risk Management (FARRM)
accounts, which would allow farmers to reserve a substantial
percentage of their net farm income in a tax deferred account, which
could be drawn on during downturns.
-
Elimination of the
Death Tax:
Governor Bush’s tax cut plan includes
elimination of the estate tax to help ensure that family-owned farms and
businesses can be passed intact from one generation to the next.
-
Continued Investment
in R&D:
Governor Bush believes that we need to accelerate our search for
innovative uses for farm products. Further research into technology
that develops fuels like ethanol and other farm products will ensure a
strong and vibrant agriculture community. Governor Bush supports the
permanent extension of the research and development tax credit, and
continued funding for agriculture research and education activities,
which will help speed development of technologically advanced farm
products.
-
Common Sense
Regulations and Private Property Laws:
Governor Bush understands that private property is fundamental to our
way of life and the backbone of our economy. As President, he will
require the federal government to carefully evaluate the impact of
regulatory initiatives on private property rights. He believes that
regulations should be based on sound
science and common sense, and solutions should involve local input,
whenever possible.
-
Opening World Markets
to U.S. Goods:
Governor Bush is committed to free trade and will work to tear down
barriers to U.S. agricultural products, especially agricultural export
subsidies and tariffs. He will work to restore Presidential trade
negotiating authority, negotiate new market-opening agreements, push
for an ambitious agenda for the next round of global trade talks, and
support China’s entry into the World Trade Organization.
Additionally, as President, Governor Bush will fight to ensure that
U.S. products are allowed entry into oversees markets and require our
trading partners to use accepted scientific
principles in enacting their regulations.
-
Exempt Food From Unilateral Trade Sanctions:
Governor Bush believes that unilateral trade sanctions are rarely
effective in achieving their foreign policy goals. If used, they should
be directed at the offending government, not innocent populations, and
food and medicine should be exempt from any new unilateral sanctions.
Texas Record
As the Governor of the second-largest agriculture producing state,
Governor Bush has led Texas in implementing innovative policies to support
the continued growth of the farm sector. Specifically, Governor Bush:
-
Signed into law the
“Agriculture and Rural Development Act of 1999,” which provided the
means for the creation of the state’s first comprehensive agriculture
policy.
-
Appropriated $25
million in emergency spending and $50 million in cost sharing assistance
to aid cotton farmers with boll weevil eradication. This provided over
23,000 producers with needed support during an especially difficult crop
season.
-
Signed into law “The
Young Farmer Loan Guarantee Program,” that expanded the Texas
Agriculture Financing Authority to provide $225 million in loan
guarantees to assist in rural development and value-added agriculture
production.
-
In his first term as Governor, led the successful
fight for passage of one of the strongest laws on private property
rights in the nation.
The Texas
Record
As the Governor of the second-largest agriculture producing state,
Governor Bush has led Texas in implementing innovative policies to support
the continued growth of the farm sector. Specifically, Governor Bush:
-
Signed into law the
“Agriculture and Rural Development Act of 1999,” which provided the
means for the creation of the state’s first comprehensive agriculture
policy.
-
Appropriated $25
million in emergency spending and $50 million in cost sharing assistance
to aid cotton farmers with boll weevil eradication. This provided over
23,000 producers with needed support during an especially difficult crop
season.
-
Signed into law “The
Young Farmer Loan Guarantee Program,” that expanded the Texas
Agriculture Financing Authority to provide $225 million in loan
guarantees to assist in rural development and value-added agriculture
production.
In his first term as Governor, led the
successful fight for passage of one of the strongest laws on private
property rights in the nation.
Source: George W. Bush for President 2000 Web Site
©2000-2007 by the 4President Corporation |