WV Farm Bureau Magazine January 2016 | Page 29

111. EXEMPTION FROM CERTIFICATION/ LICENSING FOR TIMBER OPERATIONS FOR LANDOWNERS West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends that West Virginia landowners who harvest wood products from their property be exempt from certification and licensing requirements of the Division of Forestry if such operations gross $50,000 or less in annual revenue. We believe that this exemption does not relieve the landowner of the responsibility to be a good steward of the land. In all operations, the landowner shall follow Best Management Practices (BMP) as defined by the Division of Forestry. 112. GINSENG PRODUCTION, HARVESTING AND SALE West Virginia Farm Bureau supports the allowance of planting, harvesting and sales of woods grown and cultivated ginseng. 115. DISTRICTING PATTERN FOR THE WV HOUSE OF DELEGATES West Virginia Farm Bureau believes strongly in the idea of equal representation in the legislative branch of government, and in the principle of “one person, one vote.” Farm Bureau supports a single-delegate district model for the West Virginia House of Delegates, whereby each citizen of West Virginia is represented in the House by only one member of that body. 116. ANNEXATION Annexation laws allow a municipality to annex a roadway leading to a parcel of land, and annex that parcel of land, leaving other property along the way out of the annexation. Property owners along the roadway have no voice or vote in the annexation. This “shoestring” or “spider web” annexation may adversely affect the property owners adjoining the annexed roadway. West Virginia Farm Bureau supports repealing law that provides for such annexation. 117. MARRIAGE West Virginia Farm Bureau defines “marriage” as the legal union of a man and a woman as husband and wife. Farm Bureau supports the right of a licensed minister to refuse to marry same-sex couples without legal consequence. PUBLIC ISSUES 113. LANGUAGE OF PREFERENCE West Virginia Farm Bureau supports English as the official language of West Virginia. 114. VOTER IDENTIFICATION West Virginia Farm Bureau supports the requirement to present picture ID at the time of voting, to prevent voter fraud. 118. DHHR RECIPIENTS West Virginia Farm Bureau supports legislation that requires drug testing for DHHR recipients, and if results of testing are positive, that benefits be withheld unless the recipient has a current physician’s prescription for the substance testing positive. Farm Bureau recommends that: • • • • No able-bodied person should be given assistance without giving an honest day’s effort No benefits should be increased because of an illegitimate child DHHR recipients should be permitted employment in part-time jobs without jeopardizing their status Any individual convicted of a drug offense in West Virginia becomes ineligible for state assistance in any other form other than rehabilitation programs West Virginia Farm Bureau News 29