There's Hope For Budget Passage By End of Week

Thursday, October 25, 2007 11:07 AM CDT

Joan Sanstadt, News Editor

We all know hope can be a fragile thing.

But a life without hope isn't worth much. In terms of Wisconsin's 2007-09 Biennial Budget there is real hope that the Conference Committee, the State Assembly and the State Senate will vote in favor of the compromise Gov. Jim Doyle, Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem), Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D-Beloit) and Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser (D-Kenosha) announced last Friday.

While the governor, Democrats and Republicans can all claim victory - the truth is each side won on some issues and lost on others. But isn't the art of compromise what government is all about?

Probably the biggest obstacles that delayed agreement were the inclusion in the Senate's budget version of Healthy Wisconsin, a universal approach to health care; the pledge of about a dozen Assembly Republicans that they would not vote for a budget that included a tax increase; and the governor's proposals to tax big oil companies doing business in the state and a tax on hospitals.

The health care debate needs to be held. It should be a thoughtful one and it should include a way for consumers to evaluate the cost of procedures among medical care providers and on hospital charges - again, so consumers can make comparisons. Certainly the inclusion of Healthy Wisconsin in the Senate plan gave the idea exposure it would not have gotten otherwise. The question remains, can it be enacted as a separate piece of legislation that will attract bipartisan support?

While it's admirable for people to stand on their principles - such as "no tax increases" - there's a potential such a stance can come back with a sharp bite. This always reminds me of a pledge President Teddy Roosevelt (TR) made on the day of his inauguration for what was really his first term. (During the earlier three years of his presidency he was really filling out the term of the assassinated president William McKinley. TR was the vice president.)

On the day of that inauguration, TR said he would not seek another term. It was a decision he regretted for the rest of his life.

As for the governor's plan to tax big oil companies and hospitals, it seems to me few people believe those big oil companies wouldn't find a way to pass those taxes on to consumers. Taxing hospitals just doesn't sound right - it sounded like taking advantage of the sick. It might have been something that would have worked, but hospital groups were not unanimous in how they viewed the proposal.

Once again, this column is being written on a Monday and the final budget approval and the results of how the governor uses his veto pen are not known. To his credit, Doyle has promised any vetoes would be minimal.

A lot of time has been taken up by the budget; this means a lot of legislative proposals have been languishing. We'll try to keep an eye on how lawmakers are making up for that lost time.

There's always hope.

DATCP Budget

Only minimum information is available at deadline about ag items in the budget. Here's what Paul Zimmerman, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation's executive director of governmental relations, said was included in the budget of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection budget:

- Nonpoint program at DATCP - $7 million in new bonding authority for the first year of the biennium and $6 million in the second year for nutrient management.

- $600,000 transferred from Agricultural Chemical Cleanup Fund for food regulation and animal health.

- Reduction of 30 percent in the fees for the Agricultural Chemical Cleanup Program (This was in the Senate version of the budget.)

- $4 million for soybean crushing facility.

- Just over $600,000 for the Buy Local Buy Wisconsin Program at DATCP.

- $400,000 annually for grazing lands program at DATCP. This will come from the Agricultural Chemical Management fund. It will be used for grazing research and outreach.

- Discovery Farms Program will get $250,000 annually from the Agricultural Chemical Cleanup Program.

FHCW announces '08 rates

Last week Jeff Bennesch, chair of the Farmers' Health Cooperative of Wisconsin (FHCW), announced the board of directors had approved a base rate increase of 7.9 percent for its 1,600-plus current members who renew their insurance coverage through the cooperative in 2008.

Because the risk of members is pooled under the cooperative concept, all FHCW current and future members will benefit from this low percentage base-rate increase, Bennesch said.

Launched last April, the health insurance purchasing cooperative is currently providing high quality health insurance customized to serve the needs of farmers and agribusinesses.

"Our goal is to provide members with health insurance they can afford to keep from year to year," said Bennesch. "This rate change represents our commitment to affordable health insurance delivered through the cooperative."

The FHCW is entering its first rate renewal period, with rate changes taking effect for policies renewed effective Jan. 1, 2008.The base rate increase does not include increases members may incur if they move into a higher five-year age band. Such age band increases are standard throughout the insurance industry, Bennesch added.

Bennesch said farmers and agribusinesses interested in coverage through FHCW have the opportunity to ask questions at a series of town hall meetings currently taking place across the state, but do not need to wait until the town hall meetings come to their area to receive more information about FHCW. They can contact the Farmers Health Cooperative of Wisconsin now for more information by calling 800-539-9370 or visiting http://www.farmershealthcooperative.com.

The Farmers' Health Cooperative of Wisconsin was conceived and promoted by the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives (WFC) as a way to help Wisconsin farmers obtain quality health care. WFC works with its partners, administrator Agri-Services Agency and insurer Aetna Insurance, to deliver the health care Wisconsin farmers need at a price they can afford.

"Stable rates offer Wisconsin farmers dependable coverage at a predictable cost," said Bill Oemichen, WFC president and CEO. "Gaining some stability in this important operating cost area helps our farmers stay in business," he added.

Beitlich stepping down

Sue Beitlich, president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU) since 2003, announced last week she would not seek re-election for another term when the organization convenes for its annual meeting in February.

Beitlich made her announcement before a meeting of the state organization which is considering several changes in the group's bylaws.

"I believe that the bylaw changes that the Board of Directors, the WFU Bylaws Committee and I are recommending are necessary to move WFU into the future as a strong advocacy voice for our state's farmers," she said. One of those bylaw changes would relax an eligibility requirement that members of the board and the president receive most of their income from agriculture.

"In this day and age, our members need to have more options to elect capable officers and a full time president. Our farmers are increasingly stressed for time and money and it is difficult to find full-time farmers who can devote a large time commitment to running this organization," she said.

"Changing the bylaws to allow more people to seek board positions will give our members more choices in candidates, but the power of choice will remain totally with our farmer members. The members will continue to rule the organization," Beitlich asserted.

Beitlich's decision was made several months ago when the change was first proposed. "I made the decision for several reasons," she said. "I did not want any part of the bylaw debate to be about personalities. Rather, the discussion needs to be over the merits of the proposed changes. On a personal level, I am ready to leave this office and to simply enjoy being a member of this fine organization.

"I am proud of the accomplishments we have made in becoming a stronger, more visible farm organization in Wisconsin and nationally. We have improved our financial position and are poised to increase our membership as well," she pointed out.

"Being president is a demanding and, in many ways, an all consuming job. Representing our family farmers as WFU President is exhilarating, too, and I look forward to helping my successor push the Farmers Union further to the forefront in the ongoing fight to improve prosperity and the quality of life in rural Wisconsin," Beitlich concluded.

Siting and moratoriums

The Planning Commission for the Town of Byron in Fond du Lac County unanimously voted to oppose making a recommendation to the Town of Bryon Board to adopt a moratorium.

When the Planning Commission meeting ended, the town board convened to discuss the recommendation and again asked for public comments,

Laurie Fischer, executive director of the Dairy Business Association (DBA), explained to the board how the proposed moratorium "clearly exceeds the authority of the legislature." She also stated that, if the Town of Byron adopted the moratorium it would be illegal and would be subject to legal challenge.

In the end, the town board decided to table the moratorium proposal and give themselves more time to learn about the issues involved.

One of the points Fischer made was that the town board did not need to adopt a moratorium - because the Town of Byron already has the authority under the existing siting law to adopt standards based on "reasonable and scientifically defensible findings of fact, that clearly show the requirement is necessary to protect public health or safety."

This provision in the siting law allows local units of government the ability to use a scientific process when requiring producers to comply with standards more stringent than the state standards.

Fischer reminds DBA members and producers in the Town of Byron and in Fond du Lac County to continue to participate in all meetings of the Town of Byron.

"Remember, what happens in the town of Byron could be precedent setting," Fischer said.

REMC cancels November meet

The Rural Energy Management Council has cancelled its previously scheduled meeting for Nov. 1. Instead, the council will meet on Feb. 7, 2008.

By February, the impacts of the state budget on the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection DATCP), the Public Service Commission and the Office of Energy Independence should be known.

There are proposed changes under consideration that will give REMC specific responsibilities.

The new goal is to have set tasks that could be done by this citizen advisory council that would support future state legislation, regulations, program development and implementation.

Anyone with specific recommendations or concerns should direct them to Dave Hansen, DATCP's Rural Electric Power Services (REPS) supervisor, at 800-942-2474 or direct them to 608-224-5055.

Electrical wiring bill advances

Last week it was time for the Assembly Committee on Labor and Industry chaired by Rep. Mark Honadel (R-S. Milwaukee) to take up Assembly Bill 294 that would require electricians in Wisconsin to be licensed by the state.

Just as at the hearing before a Senate Committee a few weeks ago, no one spoke against nor registered against AB 294. Its companion bill in the Senate is SB 167.

On Oct. 25, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Utilities and Rail, chaired by Senator Jeffrey Plale (D-South Milwaukee) is set to vote on SB 167.

The reason this bill, at one time considered among the most controversial, is being so well received is because lawmakers and industry representatives have worked hard to work out an agreement. The resulting measure is something that all concerned parties said they could live with and that they agree will improve electrical safety in the state.

Trappers get DNR exemption

At the urging of Rep. Lee Nerison (R-Westby) the state's Natural Resources Board voted to exempt trappers using airboats to access trapping areas from being subjected to new boat noise testing requirements.

The newly-enacted rule allows the DNR to test watercraft for compliance with the 86-decibel noise level law at a distance of 100-feet, instead of the current 50-feet.

The exemption from the 86-decibel noise limit for trappers using airboats is limited to the trapping season for fur-bearing animals which runs from Nov. 1 through Mar. 31. The exemption will sunset on Mar. 31, 2009.

Nerison said the exemption was necessary so trappers can power up those airboats enabling them to break through shallow ice and sloughs to get to their traps. Minnesota, Michigan and Iowa have similar exemptions.

Capitol Notes:

- It's already time to mark your calendars for the 2008 Ag Day at the Capitol. The date is Jan. 30 and again this year it will be at Monona Terrace Convention Center. Topics expected to be discussed include protection of the Right to Farm law, health care, renewable energy and nutrient management. Registration can be made by calling Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation at 800-261-3276. Early registration is $10 until Jan. 16. After that it will cost $15.

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