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Proposed Policy
Local Resolutions
Barry - Eaton District Health Department 2007 TOST Regulation
The (TOST) regulations as approved by the Barry County Board of Commissioners on June 26, 2007 requires that prior to a sale or transfer of a parcel containing an on-site sewage system and/or on-site water supply system the systems must be inspected by private inspectors and approved by (BEDHD).
Michigan Farm Bureau policy as adopted for 2008 states (We support the "point-of-sale inspection" of on-site septic systems.). The policy makes no distinctions as to who should perform the inspections nor as to the approval by any health department or other government agency. Michigan Farm Bureau policy also opposes fees for government regulations.
With empty houses, foreclosed houses, abandoned houses, and for sale signs littering Barry County the (BEDHD) fees are estimated to suck thousand of dollars from Barry County's economy.
Therefore be it resolved Barry County Farm Bureau
1. Supports time of sale inspections by the purchaser or someone of the purchasers choice.
2. Supports purchase offers pending inspection by private inspectors.
3. Supports lenders requiring inspections before loan approval.
4. Opposes GPS coordinates of all private wells being posted on the health department website.
5. Supports an update to the TOST regulation with input from inspectors, installers, sanitarians, and citizens. ADOPTED
State Resolutions
State of Michigan and the Natural Resources Trust Fund
The State of Michigan and The Natural Resources Trust Fund own millions of acres of land in Michigan. The state can and does grant oil and mineral rights leases and collects royalties on these lands. As required by the constitution the money is deposited into the Natural Resources Trust Funds which typically uses it for grants and the purchase of additional land.
Many of Michigan's state parks, roads, and bridges are in poor condition and in need of repair.
Therefore Barry County Farm Bureau supports a constitutional amendment to delegate these monies as follows.
1. Twenty-five percent to maintenance, repair and updates to parks and recreational lands.
2. Fifty percent to the state highway fund for maintenance repair and updates of roads and bridges.
3. Twenty-five percent for the purchase of land or development rights to enhance already existing state lands with the stipulation that an area equal in size be returned to the public ownership through sales resulting in no increase in total state land owned. ADOPTED
Michigan Merit Curriculum Policy
The Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC) is a state law that dictates what credits are required in order to graduate from High School. Students now need the following credits: 4 math, 4 English language arts, 3 science, 3 social studies, 1 physical education, 1 visual performing or applied arts, and 2 foreign language for a total of 18 credits. These credits are required and the students will be tested on them via the Michigan Merit Exam (MME) which is given in the 11th grade.
Local school districts have the flexibility to determine which classes meet the curriculum requirements. Some school districts have added additional classes to the graduation requirement to ensure that their students are prepared for the MME. While some school districts have approved agriscience classes for science credit, there are many that have not. This further hinders a student's ability to choose elective classes, like vocational and technical education classes.
Concern: This new curriculum is making it more difficult for students to fit career and technical education coursework into their schedule (especially if the student is in band or chorus, which already accounts for 4 credits they will take). The agriculture industry relies on vocational training programs like agriscience, metals shop, etc. Not all students are college bound. We will always need plumbers, welders, builders and auto technicians. The new MMC requirements unfairly force students that could otherwise thrive in vocational programs into college prep classes.
Potential solutions:
1. Reduce the foreign language requirements to 1 credit.
2. Encourage schools to strongly recommend algebra II and chemistry, but don't make them required for a diploma.
These changes, along with other changes are needed for vocational classes to survive in Michigan high schools. With less flexibility in selecting classes, students are not able to enroll in vocational classes. With less numbers in each class coupled with the current budget situation, schools will have to start cutting vocational classes.
Michigan Farm Bureau shall work with legislators to amend the MMC to provide more opportunities for students to enroll in vocational training programs.
MICHIGAN MERIT CURRICULUM (MMC)
High School Graduation Requirements
(Class of 2011)
MATHEMATICS - 4 Credits
Algebra I Geometry
Algebra II One math course in final year of high school
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS - 4 Credits
English Language Arts 9 English Language Arts 11
English Language Arts 10 English Language Arts 12
SCIENCE - 3 Credits
Biology One additional science credit
Physics or Chemistry
SOCIAL STUDIES - 3 Credits
.5 credit in Civics + .5 credit in Economics
U.S. History and Geography World History and Geography
PHYSICAL EDUCATION & HEALTH - 1 Credit
VISUAL, PERFORMING AND APPLIED ARTS - 1 Credit
ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Course, Learning or Integrated Learning Experience
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH - 2 Credits
In grades 9-12; OR an equivalent learning experience in grades K-12 effective for students entering third grade in 2006 (Class 2016)
ADOPTED
Additional costs imposed as a part of car and truck licenses (plate) registration fee
for State / Local park operation and maintenance.
Whereas, fees imposed upon citizens should reflect the cost of any service
being provided and
Whereas, fees constitute taxation without representation, and
Whereas, any fees collected as a part of the vehicle registration process should
be used only for transportation expenses, and
Whereas, any fees or costs required for support of the Michigan State Park System
should come from those persons actually using said parks, and
Whereas, certain group(s) in Michigan are supporting efforts in the Michigan Legislature
to allow imposition of a "voluntary fee" (currently proposed at $10) to be added to each
motor vehicle registration fee (license plate) for Michigan State Park usage, and
Whereas, while such "voluntary fee" may be waived by the owner by filing extra paper-
work for the vehicle, such effort really makes the "voluntary fee" a negative check off, and
Whereas, many of the vehicles for which the "voluntary fee" will be collected will be
farm vehicles which never will be used to enter a Michigan State Park at any time, thus
resulting in a fee for which no service or benefit could ever be received,
Whereas, any person desiring not to pay the "voluntary fee" would be required to state or
affirm that by not paying the "voluntary fee" they did not support the Michigan State Park
system;
Therefore be it resolved, that Michigan Farm Bureau supports:
• The Michigan State Park System,
• The concept that those using the Michigan State Park system should
support said system by continued use of the fee for use (daily and annual
park passes)
Be it further resolved, that Michigan Farm Bureau opposes:
• The collection of any fee as a part of the motor vehicle registration process
(license plate fees) for the Michigan State Park system.
ADOPTED
County level fees and taxes imposed for driver's licenses, motor fuel tax,
Vehicle (license plate) registrations, and real property transfers
Whereas, fees and costs imposed upon citizens should reflect the cost of
any service being provided for the fee and should be uniform for all citizens
of Michigan, regardless of the county they reside in, and
Whereas, efforts are being made in the Michigan Legislature to allow counties to
seek approval to impose up to $25 county fees per operator's license and $35 on
chauffer licenses, and county level motor fuel taxes on the sale of gasoline and
diesel fuels, and vehicle (license plate) registration fees, and real estate transfers, and
Whereas, any such fees and taxes could be in effect in one county and not adjoining
counties and such fees could vary greatly between various counties leading to
unequal taxation of the citizens of Michigan depending wholly on which county
they happen to reside in or are traveling through, and
Whereas, such a property transfer tax is not related to transportation (road building
and repair) expenses for which it is being proposed, and
Therefore be it resolved, that (Michigan Farm Bureau) is opposed to:
• county level fees or taxes on automobile/truck owners registration
• county level fees or taxes on drivers licenses
• transfer tax on real estate for the purpose of building and maintaining roads and bridges,
as any such fees or taxes would be unequally imposed upon the citizens of Michigan depending upon where they reside, drive, or register their vehicle(s) in Michigan.
ADOPTED
National Resolutions
Immigration Reform
Immigration reform is the most important and urgent issue facing the Federal Government today. There are estimates of 12 million illegal immigrates in the United States.
Humanitarian Crisis
Many of these immigrants are families with children, probably numbering in the many millions. Some of the children would be illegal, having been brought here by their parents; others would have been born here and are American citizens. Are we going to split apart families? Are we going to send children who are our citizens back to poverty and illiteracy in another country? Most of theses immigrants have strong family values and only want to provide for and educate their children. It must be terrifying when INS raids their homes at night and takes one or both of their parents.
Economic and Labor Crisis
The estimate is that the US will lose nine billion dollars a year because of the labor shortage. Michigan had less than 75% of the workers needed to harvest asparagus with losses of over $350 per un-harvested acre. Strawberries, oranges, apples and other fruits and vegetables are rotting in the field by the tons. The US is becoming more dependent on other countries, with less consumer safety guidelines, just as we dependent on other for oil. Builders, landscapers, dairies, food processors, and many more industries are dependent on immigrant labor.
Businesses and Regulations
The Federal Government is relying on business to enforce its failed immigration policies. Swift and Co. worked with immigration for two years on a program to insure that their workers were legal. The Immigration and Naturalization Services raided Swifts plants and caused an estimated loss of $30 million. Swift then sold out to a foreign company.
Employers are now being told they have to resolve any discrepancies on social security numbers or face stiff fines. Employers should only have to report the numbers and the Federal Government should enforce the laws.
Myths involving Immigrants
Don't pay taxes - legally all employers have to withhold social security and income taxes.
Low wages - most are paid above minimum wage. Many migrant workers are furnished with free housing, including utilities, and $10-$14 per hour
Taking American jobs - if Michigan has such a high unemployment - why can't Michigan employers fill jobs at $10-$14 per hour. Claims are that New York City has thousands of unemployed people. Seems odd that the unemployed can't travel 50-500 miles to get a job when the immigrants travel thousands of miles for a better life.
Homeland Security risk - the immigrants coming to America to work and better their lives are not terrorist threat. None of the 911 terrorists walked across a desert to get into the US - they came through customs.
Therefore be it resolved that the Barry County Farm Bureau recommend:
A. Until Congress fully and adequately resolves the immigration issues.
1. All enforcement proceedings against non-violent immigrants be suspended.
2. All enforcement proceedings against all employers be suspended.
B. Congress should resolve the immigration issue by:
1. Granting modified amnesty to all undocumented immigrants with a reasonable cost of fees and taxes.
2. Develop a worker identification system for employers hiring immigrants.
3. Permanently remove the responsibility of immigration enforcement from employers.
4. Develop a fee for work program, one that may encourage documentation as immigrants enter the county. ADOPTED
