Ag Committee Debate In Kansas

[sw363535]

The trading of votes corrupts the system...  Every law passed should have minority opposition, not consensus...

We end up with political votes for sale...Like our great senator who claims to fight for states rights in education regulation and federal funding at the same time.  Then fights to deny a state rights to regulate its own labeling issues.  A right previously unquestioned...

You get the best vote money can buy.  He just sings the ringtone of the special interest group with the most money or promise of reelection.  And then can't figure out why it is hard to get reelected.

Smokey I respect you greatly but what you describe says we compromise our way into agreement..

What that gives us is excessive numbers of fair to poor laws... rewritten often to support the lobbying groups.  

Less compromise means fewer laws, but better laws that don't have to have the pork stripped out of them every election (and new pork inserted)

If we are an extreme minority we should not be able to pass legislation that benefits us....

Without compromise the Ag department will remember why they exist,,,, food supply and safety...

Not farmer subsidy or University funding or Insurance to individuals...or even bigger funding to fake insurance companies.

We have reached a point where laws are passed for and only for minority interests. And worst of all nearly every bill is about spending more future tax dollars more than it is about being good law.

Marriage is about good dual leadership that has the others best interest above their own.  Not give them what they want or give in to a bad idea so I can get do my bad spending tomorrow.

The states should be squeeling and in kansas we are blaming the governor, but where would we be without the federal unfunded mandates...  

Federal government is a sesspool of poor legislation ---- not because we don't compromise, but because we do.

[sw363535]

We are so corrupted that we believe that getting a law passed is better than getting a good law passed.

Quotes that support that can be found not only on this board but with every legislator from a Farm state.  

Except maybe one...

[smokeyjay]

The feeling is mutual, SW.

Back to the drought relief legislation, it was something a national government can and should do to protect and maintain the social and economic structure in rural areas. It's also a national food security priority. I just read about the food riots going on today in Venezuela. It is all about a nationally failed food policy. It is about hardline dictatorial refusal to change course in the face of starving people. Is this a preferred outcome?

We don't get good policy by being hard line on policy. Saying hell no too often gives rise to enraged opposition and increased determination to stand ground, even on points that are not important. It is a prescription for increasing dysfunction, not making life better.

[k-289]

SW  -   Am wondering if the bill passed in Nebraska  ( MAP - 21 )  would fall into this catagory - which removes the  CDL  requirements for farm transportation vehicles including class 8 semi trucks ?   Corrupted or not ?  

[sw363535]

Yes that is an excellent example.  A law passed for no other reason than pandering to a voter base.

If the CDL laws passed in 1992 actually lowered traffic accidents and improved qualifications of drivers in larger and complex vehicles, and we believe those requirements need to be in force for that class of vehicle driver to be on the road, there is no good reason to create an exemption....

The complication comes because the CDL law was created by the federal government without jurisdiction over driver licensing within a state.   It's creation can be viewed as legislature that is basically a suggestion, to the states as to what the requirements should be..... It states a minimum requirement for State drivers  licenses for commercial motor vehicles.  Although it is clearly the states jurisdiction.  It is the mess you get into when ignorant well meaning congressmen decide to do what they are told by the press and passionate lobbyist, bless their hearts...

The commical side of this one 289 is the fun we have had in trying to define and redefine the meaning of "commercial motor vehicle".  Based on current law we have witnessed locally automobiles on vacation with a small trailer in tow being taken off the road for lack of a commercial drivers license.

included in the foolishness is the continual federal interpretation of interstate and intrastate commerce, which attempts to bypass existing state laws on the issue if a non commercial over 10K pounds crosses a state line.  That would include all livestock trailers and pickups, and any one ton pickup for that matter.  

It is a fun game I have been playing with law enforcement for years.  Yet the federal government can't enforce these laws, but tries to force the state law enforcement to enforce them by threatening removal of highway funding.  In both KS and Okla there are laws that define farm produce being delivered to the first storage location as non commercial. 

We have grain leaving the combine that will be in three states and not go 45 miles from the field.  

------------ok thats enough.,,,,,,, calm down......

Excellent example of too xxxx many laws made by too many people for no other reason than it makes me feel good and helps my legislative resume.

The states were corrupted like the rest of us the day they took some of those federal funds....

[sw363535]

Headlines out of Oklahoma City in todays papers.........

"Advocacy groups call for  stronger texting ban in Oklahoma"

Here comes another one.

[k-289]

SW -  Also you forgot to mention with CDL  one has to be appt enough to pass the test and respond in language skills - which seem to be in short supply in the ag labor pool ---

As far as a car towing a recreational trailer being out of compliance - the Law Officer must be in the fore mentioned pool along with the  $$$  grabing local officals - US  HWY 54 panhandle state comes to mind--- 

 Every time the word   EXEMPT    appears the repercussions sooner or later  WILL appear with a new definition of that dreaded word  (EQUIP) - entitlement  ---    

[sw363535]

289--------- imo........  No state should give a drivers license of any kind to an individual who has a language barrier.

The fact that you point that out as a plus for the CDL, shows how disturbing the "handing out" of drivers licenses is...

What difference is not being able to read the road signs because of illiteracy than because of blindness.

And what does 600 feet mean to someone who has no idea how far or even what that is...

Ag labor pool -------- I think we have problems with illiteracy across the board.....

It is clear every time i pull up to a 4 way stop and watch the confusion.

totally right on EXEMPTIONS........ first clue to a bad law...