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Texas Agriculture Archive

October 17, 2003

Now is time to work more effectively...

Redistricting:
A net loss for agriculture

By Kenneth Dierschke
TFB President

At press time, it appeared that Congressional redistricting was near completion in Austin. The "battle of the map makers" will end. By the time you read this, we'll either have a new map or we'll be into a fourth special session. Most Texans, I think, will be glad when this is over—including most of the legislators themselves.

For Texas agriculture and Farm Bureau, the post-redistricting political world will look different. None of the proposed maps are as good for rural Texas as what we had. This is, however, not much different than the days when Democrats were driving the political bus. This is the way representative democracy works. It's the best form of government in the world, but it's sometimes not pleasant to watch and doesn't always go the way you want. Our challenge is to work for Farm Bureau policy in this new political world.

The spirit of bipartisan statesmanship is wounded in Texas—but, hopefully, not dead.

Austin has seemed much more like Washington, D. C. in the last few months with all of the political rancor. There are a lot of fences to be mended between our politicians.

Farm Bureau believes that the answers to the problems and challenges in Texas agriculture, and Texas as a whole, will be found only with a relentlessly nonpartisan approach.

Good ideas can come from either side of the political aisle.

We are not in the habit of checking party membership cards before we offer support.

Your Board of Directors made a significant change in the Texas Farm Bureau Friends of Agriculture Fund (AGFUND) in September. Since the inception of AGFUND, every Farm Bureau member has been offered the opportunity to voluntarily contribute a dollar for AGFUND use. Starting with the November membership billing, that requested (voluntary) amount has been increased to $2. As before, you have the option of not contributing anything, but certainly, the future of Farm Bureau's governmental effectiveness is worth a $2 investment. You may, if you wish, contribute more, but $2 is what will appear on the renewal form.

The fact of the matter is that Congressional redistricting will be a net loss for agriculture. The people we stand to lose in this process have been important champions of our industry in Washington.

A new Congressional map will not change the way AGFUND does business.

We intend to be involved and effective in the Congressional races and all others in the state. We intend to have the resources to help the friends of agriculture and rural Texas in both parties.

For a decade and a half, AGFUND has helped amplify the voice of Texas agriculture in Austin and Washington. Helping those who agree with Farm Bureau on many issues to gain and hold public office is just logical.

Other professional groups are very much unified in that common purpose. The grassroots power of AGFUND will out last the current controversy and many more to come.