A proposed Constitutional amendment proposed by Representative Jay Houghton (R-Martinsburg), HJR 29, would make the Missouri Department of Agriculture an elected position instead of a position appointed by the governor. It would weaken the governor's powers. There are currently 12 other states that have an elected Secretary of Agriculture position, including Iowa.
The Secretary of Agriculture would have the same qualification requirements as the governor. He or she would oversee all state agricultural programs that are established by law. The General Assembly shall provide the Secretary of Agriculture appropriations to carry out his or her duties and protect, foster, and develop the agricultural resources of the state.
If passed, the Secretary of Agriculture would be elected for a term of two years at the General Election of 2016 and his or her successors shall be elected for subsequent terms of four years. There would be no term limits. Currently, the governor and the treasurer are the only two statewide positions subject to term limits.
The Missouri Times quotes Houghton as saying that the state needed to do a better job of promoting its agricultural resources and envisioning the new director as a liaison between the state and the people. However, the state's farm groups are divided on the issue with the Missouri Soybean Association in favor and the Missouri Farm Bureau against it according to the article. The Farm Bureau said in the article that while they could see the benefits in the new legislation, there was a risk in what could happen when urban voters get to vote on farm issues that mostly affect rural Missourians. They expressed concerns about what might happen to agriculture if someone were to get elected who had nothing to do with Missouri farmers or ranchers.
The Missouri Net quoted other opponents to the proposed amendment. They quoted Representative Linda Black (D-Desloge) as saying that the cluster of population comes from urban areas, which would carry a vote in a statewide election. She is the wife of Jon Hagler, the current Secretary of Agriculture. A few years ago, the Humane Society of the US successfully pushed through a ballot measure regulating dog kennels. It was heavily opposed in rural counties and heavily supported in urban counties. The legislature later modified the initiative. However, the article quotes Missouri Soybean Association Dale Ludwig as being more supportive of the idea, saying that it was just as likely that the governor might appoint someone to the Department of Agriculture as a political payoff who had no background in farming or ranching.
If passed, the initiative would go on the ballot in November 2014 or a special election called by the governor for that purpose.
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