LANSING – State Representative Dan Scripps (D-Leland) today threw his support behind a resolution to overturn the Governor's Executive Order impacting the Department of Agriculture, calling it a threat to Michigan farmers and food producers.
"Lansing needs more transparency and accountability to the people of Michigan, not less," Scripps said. "More than a million Michigan residents rely on a strong agriculture industry for their livelihoods, and we should not endanger that by doing away with public oversight. At a time when our unemployment rate has risen above 15 percent and middle class families are struggling to make ends meet, this action threatens jobs and economic opportunity in one of Michigan's few growing industries."
Last week, the Governor signed an Executive Order that guts the role of the Michigan Agriculture Commission, stripping the bipartisan body of its ability to provide oversight and executive direction of the Department of Agriculture. It also removed the Commission's ability to appoint the director of agriculture. Under the new executive order, the Commission would have a purely advisory role.
Michigan agriculture generates more than $73 billion a year and employs more than a million Michigan residents, according to the Michigan Agri-Business Association. It is the second largest industry in Michigan.
"Removing public oversight from this department is the wrong decision for our farmers, businesses and producers," Scripps said. "The Michigan Agriculture Commission has helped chart a new course for Michigan agriculture that's led to billions in growth. Neutering the Michigan Agriculture Commission and removing citizen oversight of state government is a step in the wrong direction."