1.27.04

By MARC VAN PELT

Everything is back to normal in the Maryland legislature. Democrats and Republicans are going at each other with more salt and vinegar. It only took a couple days for Democrats to overturn three vetoes from Gov. Ehrlichπs last session. They were the first overrides by the General Assembly since 1989.
On one issue, by a vote of 32 to 15, the Senate approved a bill to establish energy efficiency standards for nine primarily commercial appliances, including ceiling fans, refrigerators, traffic signals and commercial washers, among others. These standards are more strict than the federal standards.
On another front, under the leadership and encouragement of its president Mike Miller, D-Prince Georgeπs, the Senate approved a rule change making it easier to halt a filibuster. Now it will take only 29 votes — a three-fifths majority — to end a filibuster. Previously, a two-thirds majority — 32 votes of the 47-member body — was required. That is in lockstep with the rules in the U.S. Senate.
In these two cases, the Democrats are saying, on one hand, letπs switch to U.S. Senate rules on filibusters but, on the other, letπs exceed federal rules and guidelines on energy efficiency standards. In a political power struggle, contradictions are easily overlooked.
Then this from the Sun newspaper in Baltimore last week: ≥Legislative leaders and members of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.πs administration pledged yesterday to put aside their party differences to pass major initiatives during this yearπs General Assembly session to help the Chesapeake Bay and the environment.≤
Okay, both sides of the political aisle in the legislature want to work together to save the bay. You could see that coming. The anticipated response, of course, to the bay health issue. And, after all, farmers have been leading the way in that regard. They donπt get much credit, but no other group has worked as hard or had to jump through more hoops than Maryland farmers in the effort to save the bay.
We also know that the Maryland Department of Agriculture will be seeking new nutrient management regulation criteria through a bill to lessen the burden on farmers. This and other measures relating to agriculture will have a hard time gaining support. State lawmakers are not inclined to take away something they already have. Asking for less legislation on farmers or for changing regulations to help the farmers is not something usually found in the legislative playbook.
When was the last time in 20 years that the legislature has passed bills to lessen the load on farmers in Maryland?
It is a fact that a lot of hard work has been put forward by different groups in Maryland to alter this course. It will be a monumental task.
However, the simple reality remains that Maryland farmers need to be in Annapolis in droves, day after day when these bills are being considered. They need to be organized, they need to be told where and at what time to report. Even if it means taking the tractors down to Annapolis. I was told once that a tractorcade would make the public and the legislative body even more angry at farmers. How could they be more angry? A tractorcade would get everyoneπs attention. It did in the early 1980s. Itπs a chance farmers might have to take.
They arenπt picking on farmers in Maryland as much these days. They have their sights set on sewage treatment plants now. Youπll see that with the way you will have to pay Ehrlichπs $2.50 monthly sewage fee. That bill will pass with flying colors. Guaranteed! And theyπll focus on farmers again, for sure.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel. If the general public and the legislature see the reality, that farmers are good people standing up for fair causes, and the general media finally see the good stories and aspirations of Maryland farmers, then all of their hard work is starting to bear fruit.
At this paper, weπre mostly ≥preaching to the choir.≤ We know that most farmers stand for good country values, passed on by families from one generation to the next. We celebrate agriculture in the hope that state lawmakers and the general public will come to understand the issues. They would stand up for the farmers if they just knew how hard they have worked to save their land and the bay.
Like the bumper sticker says ≥Farmers — the first environmentalists.≤