Dole, Kemp Ticket Makes Pledge
On Agricultural, Rural Issues

With its focus on big labor, big money and big scandals, the 1996 presidential race has put relatively little emphasis on agriculture. Producers who get most of their campaign coverage from the national press can be forgiven for feeling like stepchildren.

In a move reminiscent of the 1994 "Contract with America," however, the Dole/Kemp ticket has issued what it calls its "Pledge to Agriculture and Rural America."

"Rural America represents the heart, soul, history and heritage of our nation," says the preamble to the pledge. "Since our country’s founding, U.S. agriculture has been a source of economic growth and prosperity at home and a symbol of strength and leadership throughout the world. The importance of a strong, vibrant agricultural sector to our national economy and national security is no less today than it was two centuries ago. Today, over 60 million Americans make their home in rural and small town America, and one in five is employed in an agriculture-related job.

"Recognizing these facts, we hereby sign ‘The Dole/Kemp Pledge to Agriculture and Rural America.’ As President and Vice President of the United States, we will actively carry out the following policies and actions:

 "We will cut federal income tax rates on America’s farm and ranch families by 15%.

 "We will support legislation to increase the estate tax exemption from $600,000 to $1.6 million and eventually eliminate the estate tax on family owned businesses, farms and ranches.

 "We will support legislation to reduce the capital gains tax rate from 28 percent to 14 percent.

 "We will support legislation to allow the self-employed and their families to deduct 100 percent of their health insurance premium costs.

 "We will oppose reduction or elimination of producer contract payments in the 1996 Farm Bill.

 "We will ensure that regulations affecting private property rights are voluntary and incentive-based, and apply this approach to the reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act in the next Congress.

 "We will use all available tools, credit and market development programs to maintain and enhance demand for U.S. farm commodities and products which are in surplus or which require assistance to be competitive in international trade.

 "We will aggressively pursue trade cases involving agriculture through the office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

 "We will not single out agricultural exports in any trade embargo implemented for foreign policy or national security reasons.

 "We will support continued funding of the 1996 Farm Bill conservation programs including the Conservation Reserve Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program and the Environmental Quality Incentive Program.

 "We will support reform of current regulations governing management of wetlands and rangeland to balance the needs of agriculture and the environment.

 "We will support the continued use of alternative fuels.

 "We will support an increase in federal funding for agricultural research.

 "We will appoint qualified individuals at the U.S. Department of Agriculture who will not use their offices for political activities or personal gain.

"We pledge to carry out each of the above commitments to Agriculture and Rural America."

Livestock Weekly is unaware of any similar pledge from the Clinton/Gore campaign.