Erin Dimas, Young Co.

NASCOE AND TASCOE AT WORK!!!!

See your leadership's response to current conditions

http://southwestfarmpress.com/government/ag-budget-cut-responses-follow-party-lines?YM_MID=1242151&YM_RID=dcplowboy@aol.com

Legislative Initiatives

The main purpose of the TASCOE Legislative Committee is to stay abreast of current legislation and bring our views and issues to the attention of our representatives. This is accomplished in a variety of ways, from phone calls and visits, to letters and CAPWIZ, PAC and even as far as conducting legislative conferences in Washington, DC. Our Committee strives to keep NASCOE, FSA and our elected officials aware of issues that County Offices are facing and offer our input into developing solutions to address these issues.

As with any change, the new Farm Bill presents a variety of challenges to FSA Administration, State Offices, and County Offices throughout the nation. It is during these times that the voices of County FSA employees need to be heard to provide insight into implementing a new Farm Bill from the “grassroots” level. After all, who gets to see the Farm Bill Programs in action more than those whose job it is to administer the program at the local level?

Current issues being discussed in the legislative arena include funding for temporary employees to help implement the Farm Bill, the potential streamlining of FSA, a bill to repeal the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision for Civil Service Employees, FERS sick leave benefits, and continuing a moratorium on the closure of FSA Offices, just to name a few.

We hope to keep this page posted with current information regarding legislative issues affecting FSA and it’s employees. We thank all employees for their tireless work and look forward to hearing any concerns, ideas or suggestions you may have regarding legislative issues.

Have You Joined the PAC???

To date, our PAC has grown to become a useful tool for building vital support with members of Congress. Yet, only about six percent of members currently contribute to the PAC. For just a few dollars per pay period, you can make a big difference for NASCOE and your own job security. Instructions on signing up can be found on the NASCOE website or obtained through your Area Legislative Chair

CAPWIZ...Every Voice Counts.

For instructions on how to signup for CAPWIZ click here.

2011 Legislative Convention

TASCOE Members,

On March 7th your TASCOE Legislative Team traveled to Washington DC and joined approximately 200 NASCOE members from across the nation as part of the 2011 NASCOE Legislative Conference. On Wednesday March 9 th our legislative team made personal visits to congressional offices of the following Texas legislators:

Senator John Cornyn

Mike Conaway – House Ag. Committee – District 11

Rand y Neugebauer – House Ag. Committee – District 19

Henry Cuellar – District 28

Mac Thornberry – District 13

Bill Flores – District 17

Francisco Canseco – District 23

Blake Farenthold – District 27

Ruben Hinojosa – District 15

Lamar Smith – District 21

John Carter – District 31

Kevin Brady – District 8

Ralph Hall – District 4

We presented each TX representative a letter from TASCOE describing FSA and our county office employees and our role in promoting local agriculture and administrating USDA farm programs at the county level. This letter was personalized for each congressional representative’s own district in providing the total 2010 FSA payments made in their respective district. Legislators were informed how Texas FSA had already undergone significant downsizing in operations since 2004 in reduction of permanent ceilings from 677 to 601 resulting in 11.2% reduction. Additionally closure and consolidation of 18 county offices has resulted in a 9.1% reduction in bricks and mortar in Texas since 2007. The message that Texas FSA has made every effort to serve producers in each congressional district in the most economically and accountable way was stressed and highlighted in our presentation.The following are highlights of the important points stressed to members of Congress:

1/ NASCOE members and FSA county office employees are committed and believe deeply in efficiency and safe stewardship of the tax dollar. Message of fiscal responsibility was stressed.

2/ FSA network of county offices delivers all the federal farm programs provided by Congress with oversight of a farmer elected committee. This grass roots local control of federal farm programs allows the needs of the community to be addressed by their local elected COC member.

3/ Reduction of duplicative services within USDA. Specifically, FSA crop acreage reports using GIS/CLU acreages are accurate and meet regulatory requirements for all federally mandated farm programs and can be easily shared within USDA through the CIMS system to supply the portion of information needed by RMA and NRCS. It is not frugal use of the taxpayer’s dollar to pay THREE different agencies to accept the same information. Additional using a single system of information reporting will reduce fraud and abuse that currently is present.

4/ Reduction of duplicative service within USDA. Specifically, let the administrative experts of FSA administer all conservation programs while NRCS provides the necessary technical work. This would reduce administrative cost of EQIP down from 20% of total EQIP program funds down to FSA cost of administration of 6.2% for every dollar paid and not using program funds for administration costs.

I want to stress that these initial office visits are only the beginning of our legislative efforts in Texas. Our TASCOE Legislative Committee will follow up with periodic contacts which each of the congressional offices that we visited and stand ready to provide any necessary information to them on future votes regarding FSA budgets and the next farm bill. I would especially encourage each county office employee working in TX Congressional Districts 11 and 19 to write personal emails to congressmen Conaway and Neugebauer urging them to support FSA, county office employees, and the programs that FSA administers including direct commodity payments. Both Conaway and Neugebauer serve on the House Agriculture Committee who role will be to write the next farm bill under the leadership of Chairman Frank Lucas, R-OK. Congressman Lucas supports direct commodity payments and we need to make sure that Conaway and Neugebauer will join Congressman Lucas in supporting direct commodity payments.

In closing I can assure you that your NASCOE/TASCOE Legislative Team represented you and your best interests as county office employees to the best of our abilities. I told each congressional office that as President of TASCOE, I represent the most dedicated and hard working government employees in the nation.

Sincerely,

Darvin L. Collins, TASCOE Executive Board

John Mark Kinnibrugh, TASCOE Legislative Chair

Check out these links...

Lucas' Budget Letter FY 12

NAFEC Initiative

NAFEC Presentation