A2O-l>nc««ter Farming, Saturday, May 4, 1998 VERNON ACHENBACH JR. Lancaster Fanning Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) An estimated 350 people participatedln the annual Pennsyl vania Stale Grange legislative ban quet Monday evening at the Sheraton-East in Harrisburg. The Pennsylvania State Grange is an organization representing rur al communities throughout the slate. Its membership is about 30,000 and it has affiliate groups in 66 of the state’s 67 counties. About 80 legislators had indi cated they would attend the event, which seats legislators at tables with Grange members from the respective legislative districts. Even though the Legislature was in session, most all legislators who indicated they would, were able to attend. The purpose of the banquet is to allow legislators and members an opportunity to discuss one-to-one the issues that currently affect rural life, such as opportunities and ideas that may help eliminate bar riers to rural life goals, and ideas on possible solutions to existing problems. Gordon Hiller, state master, presided over the banquet and received a proclamation from Gov. Tom Ridge, with the banquet pre sentation made by Chris Herr, Department of Agriculture deputy secretary, and Jane Brosius, for her husband, Secretary of Agriculture Charife? Brosius. Secretary Brosius also served as a speaker for one of the Grange’s 12 pre-banquet workshops held at the hotel. For photographers, he presented the award to Hiller prior to the banquet. Banquet speaker was Joy Dun- of RULE, wl*> talked about effective leader ship leadership styles,- and deve loping lsW|£rship and motivational skills. She talked about thfe role of the Grange in being a catal-' From the left, Frances Hoffman, Freda Shreck and Agnes Wilson, of the Pa. State Grange Women’s Activities Com mittee prepare milk punch for the 350 people attending the Grange’s legislative banquet. Morrow, Hiller Seek Re-Election To Penn State Trustee Board STATE COLLEGE (Centre Co.) David Morrow, a dairy enthusiast, veterinarian, and edu cator, and Gordon Hiller, master of the Pennsylvania State Grange are seeking re-election to Penn State’s board of trustees. Four Pennsylva nia agricultural societies have endorsed Morrow and Hiller for re-election. They include PA Farm Bureau, PA State Grange, PA Holstein Association, and PA Council of Farm Organizations. During his past three-year term. Morrow served as vice chair and chair of the physical plant commit tee, chair of the architectural selec tion committee, and was | member of both Research Park and Corpo ration boards, as well as a member State Grange yst in helping people develop those skills. Brenda Shambaugh, Grange legislative director, outlined Grange policy. The Grange annu ally develops policy through its membership. Some of the issues included'a proposed “rebalancing” of tele phone rates by Bell Atlantic, tl|at essentially would increase rural rates to lower city and urban rates in order to outcompete with small er upstart companies offering low er service prices in target areas. The Grange has been the leading rural and agricultural organization to challenge the proposal. (See April 27 issue of Lancaster Farming.) “The Grange vehemently opposes any attempt to rebalance die pricing structure especially when the motivating factor is base d on competition form other com panies,” Shambaugh said. “This proposed increase may have gone unnoticed if it had not been for the Grange." In other issues, Shambaugh said the Grange supports local tax reform legislation (Senate Bill 2) that would require less reliance on % property taxes and more emphasis on equal taxes, as well as provid ing more local control df how the tax formula is derived. Shambaugh said the reason for more local control is because each political subdivision has its own unique mixture of taxable resour ces. A statewide forced reliance on taxing property doesn’t allow communities to tap into their real assets, or to provide fairness according to ability to pay. Shambaugh said getting such tax reform is key to empowering rural Pennsylvanians to escape the downspiraling drain on local rural property Owners whose income is derived from local business. In many areas such property tax reliance forces out local ownership Dave Morrow Host To State Legislature State Secretary of Agriculture Charles Brosius talks to members of the Pa. State Grange about changes in agriculture. and creates incentives to sell prop erty to development corporations. “This measure (type of local tax reform) gives municipalities and school districts greater flexibilty in levying taxes based on their own tax forumla. In municipalities that design a new tax formula, voters could later veto any proposed property tax increase higher that the rate of economic growth of the area.” A 6'A -cent per gallon gas tax proposed by Gov. Ridge to shore up funds for state road and bridge repairs to damage caused by this winter’s storms and flood is also an issue. Shambaugh said that legisla tors should remember that existing state policy calls for a 3-cent gas tax and a 3-percent oil franchise tax to pay for damages. She' said that the Grange is pleased that state education reform is being addressed piecemeal instead of in a broadbrush manner, especially with recent tenure reform and with proposed sabbati cal reform. “Grange policy has advocated tenure reform for a number of years, and we were pleased to see that it was increased from two to three years,” Shambaugh said. “However, Grange policy calls for teacher tenure to be tendered after five years of satisfactory teaching experience.” The proposed sabbatical reform would prohibit teachers from using sabbaticals for travel, early retire ment or as severance pay, but it could be utilized for the purpose of study or for health. The Grange policy is reflected in the proposal. The governor’s state budget of the presidential selection committee. Hiller in his past three-year term served on the environment com mittee and was named to the exter nal advisory committee to the dean search process. He is the current overseer to New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Both men have extensive ser vice to the University, The College of Agricultural Sciences, and the agricultural community. Both have received numerous awards for their many accomplishments. The representatives from Pen nsylvania agricultural societies will elect two members to the Penn Slate Board of Trustees on May 9. J«V . Mgr. aire Charles Bro sius presents a proclamation of state Grange Week to Gor don Hiller, president of the Pa. State Grange. proposal also provides issues Of" contention for the Grange. Specifi cally, the Grange is seeking resto ration of funding for the University of Pennsylvania School of Veter inary Medicine. The proposed funding cut to the school was highlighted by a recent formation of a coalition of agricul tural and public health-concerned organizations to educate legisla tors, the Ridge administration and others on the importance of fund ing the vet school. As part of an attempt to reduce state spending. Ridge proposed a budget that reduces all spending except for prisons, which would, receive a large increase. The vet school however, is key to the state’s agriculture and food processing industries’ exporting attempts, as well as its competitive edge, and animal health (and related human health). It is also important that the school has the lowest amount of state support among peer vet schools, depends heavily on research grants to pay staff, and has already reached the limit in funding from the .university and other sources to maintain its reduced staff. It also has one of the highest tui tions for instate students because of continued cuts of state support. Coalition members expressed dis appointment in the lack of under standing of critical elements in the state’s animal industry. They further expressed disbelief that the proposal was made, in light of the fact that die coalition had previously formed under the administration of former-Gov. Robert Casey to successfully battle Casey’s proposal to do the same thing. During the coalition meeting, which the Grange supports, it was also announceothat if state fund ing for the school goes through at the reduced level proposed slashed by $3.6 million it will probably signal the end of what the president of the American Veterin ary Association called the best vet school in the world. ‘The public must realize that food safety and animal and human health work done at the New Bol ton Center (a research center of the vet school) has a profound impact on our daily lives and that the negative ramifications of disconti nuing this research goes far bey ond agriculture.” Shambaugh said. ‘The budget that was proposed would also discontinue the student loand forgiveness programs for rural teachers and ag students who go back to rural areas. These prog rams were passed by the General Assembly to get college graduates back in rural areas.” In addition to those issues, Shambaugh said the Grange is cur rently working on legislation to create an agricultural specialty license plate, a returnable bever age container law, and to protect property owner rights. She said the Grange has also been opposed to riverboat gambling. The workshops were offered in three different tracks, depending on Grange member interest. In addition to the presentation by state Secretary of Agriculture Charles Brosius, the political track included a presentation by Joseph Dudick, who is executive director of the Pa. Rural Development Council and also the governor’s rural advisor. Dudick discussed (Turn to Peg* A 22) > t
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