2006 Union County Farm Bureau, Inc. Policy Development Recommendations FEDERAL 1. Promote rural America’s Family Farms and their image 2. Support all phases of agriculture and their byproducts 3. Permanently eliminate estate taxes 4. Continue to support welfare reform 5. Fund all federal programs at federal level 6. Limit federal spending 7. Oppose any cuts in farm programs. STATE 1. Require all rail traffic to signal at public and private crossings 2. Be able to access a percentage of user’s fees from state parks for county use 3. All property owners maintain weed control for proper visibility on all public roads and highway 4. Provide a more equitable taxing process to eliminate the burden of property taxes. 5. State protection animal agricultural and biotech commodities by limiting local restrictions. 6. Supports the repeal of Indiana inheritance tax or as an alternative, match the federal inheritance tax schedule(inheritance tax exemption should be $10 million dollars at the state and federal level). 7. Farm Bureau recognizes the damages of the meth manufacture and abuse to our farm families, our agricultural business and production as well as the danger to our larger community; recommends that the state farm bureau endorse the forceful enforcement and prosecution, and active support of county children protective agencies to rescue, protect and treat children at risk. 8. Change the homestead exemption to a percentage of the assessed value of the home. 9. Give the voter the right to vote on school and county budgets, thus allowing the local citizens the right to determine the community’s future. LOCAL 1. Promote and encourage agriculture to local youth and the general public. 2. Promote farm safety and recycling programs to the general public. 3. Protect animal agriculture and biotec commodities from local restrictions 4. Supports increase in local income tax and /or sales tax to offset future increases in property tax.