« Law - News about Judge Posner | Main | Indiana Decisions - Two posted by 7th Circuit »

Monday, August 30, 2004

Environment/Economic Development - Agriculture in the Gubernatorial Campaign

"Daniels proposes to double Indiana's livestock population" is the headline today to this story today in the Muncie StarPress. Some quotes:

MUNCIE - Opponents of large dairy farms in East Central Indiana are calling for stricter environmental regulations and a moratorium on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

At the same time, Republican candidate for governor Mitch Daniels is proposing to loosen CAFO restrictions and double Indiana's livestock production this decade.

"Mitch said we always respect the right of localities to turn away business, but livestock represents an important opportunity for the future of Indiana agriculture," said Ellen Whitt, a spokesman for Daniels. "Many of the poorest rural areas would benefit from acting on opportunities such as this. Most such opportunities would operate in compliance with the environmental regulatory framework."

According to Daniels's Web site, one of the keys to Indiana's economic comeback is to "overhaul an environmental regulatory system that is creating unnecessary obstacles for livestock production, with a goal of doubling production during this decade."

Kathleen Dutro of Indiana Farm Bureau, which endorsed Daniels Saturday through its political action committee, said: "The problem isn't the regulations really. Indiana Farm Bureau has been part of the process of creating many of those regulations, as have environmental groups. The problem isn't so much the regulations as administering them. For example, the process of getting a permit seems to take a really long time."

On August 21 the ILB reported briefly on two stories that day in the Muncie Star-Press on CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations). On August 22nd the Star-Press contained this story that began: "WINCHESTER - Angry citizens expressed no confidence Thursday night in the ability of either the state or Tony Goltstein to prevent pollution and other problems at Goltstein's proposed 1,650-cow dairy farm."

Saturday the Star-Press published this story, headlined "Indiana Farm Bureau endorses Mitch Daniels." Here is a quote:

"I think they believe Mitch Daniels has a more proactive agricultural agenda," IFB President Don Villwock said. "He has traveled the state since day one during his campaign, saying that he supports agriculture, that we should expand agriculture in the state of Indiana."

Eventually, after Indiana's economy grows, Daniels would like to eliminate property taxes. "In Farm Bureau's ears, that's sweet music," Villwock said.

"I think Mitch Daniels has said not only agriculture but all business in Indiana is looking for reform in IDEM, actually major change, a shakeup in that department, that there is a lot of frustration by farmers in the slow permitting process, of the internal rules and regulations that are developed [by IDEM] rather than by the legislative process," Villwock said. "He thinks there needs to be change, and I think that's one of the main reasons Indiana Farm Bureau decided to endorse him today."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 30, 2004 07:00 AM
Posted to Environmental Issues