Opinions differ on whether state government can influence direction of national farm economy.
A bipartisan group of rural lawmakers is asking Gov. Bill Graves to appoint a blue-ribbon panel to address the economic crisis facing family farms, but a spokesman for the governor says Graves is unlikely to follow that idea.
In a letter to Graves dated Monday, the group of five senators and six representatives urged Graves to appoint a panel to address the state's farm economy, similar to the Transportation 2000 committee he appointed last year to study the state's highway needs.
"While there are many ideas and opinions as to how the state should address the farm economy, the best way to find out is to listen to those attempting to live through it," the lawmakers said.
The letter was an indication of a growing split within the Legislature over how much -- if anything -- state governments can do to help family farmers, who have been struggling the past several months with falling prices for both commodities and livestock.
In the Legislature's interim Special Agriculture Committee, for instance, one of the most divisive issues this summer has been whether the committee should go on a listening tour in rural Kansas to hear family farmers talk about the economic problems they face.
Last week, on a motion by Rep. Bruce Larkin, the ranking Democrat on the panel and one of the letter signers, the committee agreed to ask the Legislative Coordinating Council to approve letting the committee go on a three-day listening tour, with stops in Hutchinson, Dodge City and Colby.
The motion passed, but only over the objection of the committee's chairman, Rep. Dan Johnson, R-Hays, who is among those who believe problems facing Kansas farmers result from global economic forces beyond the state's control.
That view also is shared by Gov. Graves and his new Secretary of Agriculture, Jamie Clover Adams.
"There is nothing wrong (in the agriculture economy) that higher commodity and livestock prices and a few new international markets opening up won't cure," Graves wrote in one of his weekly newspaper columns recently.
Larkin said the 11 lawmakers decided to ask Graves for a special study commission because they doubt the LCC will authorize a listening tour for the Special Agriculture Committee.
"It's highly doubtful, if the committee chairman's not in favor of it, that the LCC will give approval," Larkin said.
Mike Matson, the governor's press secretary, said it is unlikely Graves will appoint a panel similar to the one that recommended the recent transportation program.
"That's really an apples-and-oranges comparison," Matson said. "The state has a lot of control and input on transportation issues, but unfortunately very little input on federal farm policy."
-- Peter Hancock's phone message number is 832-7144. His e-mail address is phancock@ljworld.com.
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