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by Susie Taylor

More than 200 county Farm Bureau leaders and state and field staff heard about everything from Ohio’s budget woes to a possible war in Iraq during this year’s Ag Day at the Capitol, held Feb. 12 in downtown Columbus.

The annual event gives county Farm Bureau leaders an opportunity to hear legislative briefings from Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) government affairs staff before visiting state legislators. During the event’s lunch, members were able to talk with state agency directors, officials from Ohio State University and coordinators of other state programs that impact agriculture.

Most discussion centered on financial concerns and Gov. Bob Taft’s recently proposed budget. In opening remarks, OFBF President Terry McClure read new policy approved by delegates at OFBF’s annual meeting in December: "To stay within the state budget, we strongly encourage our state legislators to make every effort to find cost savings measures, including Medicaid reform, before raising taxes."

McClure compared Ohio’s current financial situation to agriculture of the 1980s after the prosperous 1970s. "Many states today are in the same place where agriculture was in the ’80s," he said. "We had to cut back, and now the citizens of the state of Ohio have to face cutbacks."

In line with OFBF policy, McClure said the organization is working to point out cost-saving measures that could be taken before taxes are increased. "We need to spend time today asking our legislators the tough questions, like ‘Has the budget been cut enough?’"

After asking for a show of hands of the grain producers in the crowd, McClure asked them who their customers were. "I don’t know about you, but about 75 percent of what I grow goes to a hog, poultry or steer. … We grain producers need to be very concerned with the growth of the livestock industry in this state."

He added that most of the time, farmers are a silent group, but "it’s time to say ‘Enough.’ I have to make my farm profitable; we need to do the same with our state government."

Ohio Treasurer Joseph Deters addressed his role in assuring that the state’s investments remain solvent. "It doesn’t help when we’re under terror alerts and threats," he said.

He said consumer confidence would not return until people like Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein are "dealt with." He added that "safety is key for public funds."

Keynote speaker Michael Barone, senior writer for U.S. News and World Report and Fox News political contributor, highlighted three specific issues impacting what he called the "new rules" in Washington D.C.: war, domestic politics and the economy.

Barone believes military action will begin before March 1, and it probably won’t last long. "The key is how the U.S. handles post-war Iraq," he said. "There has been a lot of planning within our government on how to run post-war Iraq, and it’s very much within our national interest to do so."

He said a democratic government in the Middle East is essential "not just in fighting evil men, but evil ideas as well."

As far as domestic politics is concerned, Barone said Americans, who were polarized in their views before Sept. 11, 2001, have come together since the terrorist attacks. "Cultural differences remain, but we’re able to deal with them differently," he said.

Immediate income isn’t a major concern for Americans, Barone said when discussing the economy. "Long-term accumulation of wealth is what people seem to be most concerned with."

Before visiting legislators, OFBF’s staffers Scott Williams and Larry Gearhardt informed members about specific issues such as the budget, Current Agricultural Use Value clarifications and large livestock regulations.

"This is grassroots action at its best," said OFBF Vice President of Government Affairs Keith Stimpert. "Individuals speaking face-to-face with lawmakers talking about how laws affect them on their farms and in their communities. This was a great day."