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FEDERATION SEEKS PASSAGE OF FAMILY FARM PRESERVATION ACT
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Farmers will be the likely target of proposed tax increases when the Alabama Legislature convenes for its regular session March 4, according to Sen. Zeb Little, D-Cullman, chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Conservation Committee. Little said he plans to make sure farmers are protected. "Unfortunately, there aren't many of you - there aren't many farmers left," Little told farmers during the opening day of the Alfa Farmers Commodity Producers Organizational Conference on Feb. 3 in Montgomery. "And when you look at the budget, you look at cutting off the exemptions, that's one of the first things that comes up." The Family Farm Preservation Act along with property tax issues will be at the top of the legislative agenda for the Federation, said Freddie Patterson, director of the Federation's Governmental Affairs Department. "Even though the Alabama Legislature doesn't begin its regular session until March 4, we're already positioning ourselves to try to get the Family Farm Preservation Act passed and to monitor any tax legislation that may arise." Patterson said. Constitutional reform, water resource management, legislative appropriations and insurance issues also will be monitored closely by Patterson and other lobbyists for the Federation and Alfa Insurance Co. "As this legislative session begins, it's more important than ever before for our members to communicate with their legislators," Patterson said. "Legislators pay attention to their voters and what they're saying. We can't afford to take a wait-and-see attitude. We have to be vocal and out front about what we want." Visit www.alfafarmers.org and click on "Capitol Connection." Periodic alerts will be posted to inform members about important upcoming votes and legislation. The site also contains addresses, phone numbers and email addresses for all state legislators and state constitutional officers.
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