I spent the day Tuesday, Feb. 27th at the capitol testifying in support of Rep. Miller's HB461 which limits the Texas Animal Health Commission's plan for Animal ID to be a voluntary program, with full disclosure and non- discrimination for those who choose not to participate. This bill also allows those who have been coerced into registering their premises to opt out, and to be deleted from the data base.
Tuesday's session was completely different then the day I spoke before the Senate Ag Committee a few months back. BIG business was no where to be found except the Farm Bureau and Dr. Hillman, E.D. of the TAHC. There was overwhelming support for the bill putting restrictions on the TAHC's authority to create a mandatory program at their discretion.
To watch the video archive follow these links:
Morning Session - includes Judith McGeary's testmony (from Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance), along with Chairman Miller's eloquent introduction on how this program is not needed.
Afternoon Session - includes Farmer Brad's testimony (second to the last) along with an excellent testimony from an experienced veterinarian, and the shameful testimony from the Farm Bureau and Dr. Hillman, E.D. of the TAHC.
Don't forget the Don't Tag Texas Rally this Friday at the capitol March 2nd... click here for the details. BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY!
BE ACTIVE! Show up for the rally or contact your Representative telling them to support HB461.
2.09.2007
Help Save Our Farm (from the tax man)
Dear Members & Friends,
On Feb. 5th we received a registered letter from the Washington County Appraisal District (WCAD) giving us a NOTICE OF DENIAL for 2007 Agriculture Exemption, stating that the reason our “Property does not meet the degree of intensity requirements as set out in the 2007 WCAD Guidelines for 1-d-1 Ag Use.”
We are entitled to protest this denial before the Appraisal Review Board. We are writing to you, our customers and friends, asking you to support us in preparing our case. If you can prepare a letter to the Appraisal Review Board, stating how you as our customer or associate have benefited from our services in any way, this will help us in our defense that we are a legitimate small family farm that is securing our livelihoods in commercial agriculture.
We see the challenge that we have before us as an opportunity to teach our county appraisal district about the local food economy and the future of sustainable farming. We realize that our production methods and direct to customer sales are a new concept for conventional agriculture, and we hope to promote this new and unique opportunity for small family farmers across Texas. This battle may have a big impact, not just for our family, and for yours, but for Washington County and possibly the whole state.
We write this letter to you, because we need your support. We need our community to stand with us as we work on this issue. If our family farm loses our Ag Exemption, there is a good chance that we may not be able to financially afford to stay in business. We need your help in securing our right to produce and sale fresh local food. We need you to stand with us. Please take a few minutes to write a letter to the Washington County Appraisal Review Board telling them how our small family farm benefits your lives. This letter needs to be sent to us so that we may add it to the material we are compiling for our defense. DO NOT send your letter durectly to the WCAD.
Yours in the harvest & thanks for the support!
Farmer Brad & Jenny
Please send your letters to our address:
The Stufflebeam Family
HOME sweet FARM
7800 FM 2502
Brenham, TX 77833
On Feb. 5th we received a registered letter from the Washington County Appraisal District (WCAD) giving us a NOTICE OF DENIAL for 2007 Agriculture Exemption, stating that the reason our “Property does not meet the degree of intensity requirements as set out in the 2007 WCAD Guidelines for 1-d-1 Ag Use.”
We are entitled to protest this denial before the Appraisal Review Board. We are writing to you, our customers and friends, asking you to support us in preparing our case. If you can prepare a letter to the Appraisal Review Board, stating how you as our customer or associate have benefited from our services in any way, this will help us in our defense that we are a legitimate small family farm that is securing our livelihoods in commercial agriculture.
We see the challenge that we have before us as an opportunity to teach our county appraisal district about the local food economy and the future of sustainable farming. We realize that our production methods and direct to customer sales are a new concept for conventional agriculture, and we hope to promote this new and unique opportunity for small family farmers across Texas. This battle may have a big impact, not just for our family, and for yours, but for Washington County and possibly the whole state.
We write this letter to you, because we need your support. We need our community to stand with us as we work on this issue. If our family farm loses our Ag Exemption, there is a good chance that we may not be able to financially afford to stay in business. We need your help in securing our right to produce and sale fresh local food. We need you to stand with us. Please take a few minutes to write a letter to the Washington County Appraisal Review Board telling them how our small family farm benefits your lives. This letter needs to be sent to us so that we may add it to the material we are compiling for our defense. DO NOT send your letter durectly to the WCAD.
Yours in the harvest & thanks for the support!
Farmer Brad & Jenny
Please send your letters to our address:
The Stufflebeam Family
HOME sweet FARM
7800 FM 2502
Brenham, TX 77833
Texas HPV Vaccine Opting Out Rules
Below is a link to the official State of Texas site on how to elect to avoid the vaccinations due to religious or philosophical objections. It clearly outlines what a parent must do in order to opt out of vaccinations in Texas. Each state is different and we must know what is required rather
than generalities.
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/docs/faq_exemption.pdf also see
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/school/school_exclusion.shtm
Here's a sample http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/docs/sample_letter.pdf of the initial "exemption from Immunizations Conscience form which should be completed and then either mailed or FAXED to the address indicated on the form. The Department of State Health Services will then type up an official exemption form which will be mailed to you , needs to be notarized and then given to the child's school.
than generalities.
http://www.dshs.
http://www.dshs.
Here's a sample http://www.dshs.
2.07.2007
Vaccine Center Issues Warning
The National Vaccine Information Center yesterday warned state officials to investigate the safety of a breakthrough cancer vaccine as Texas became the first state to make the vaccine mandatory for school-age girls.
Negative side effects of Gardasil, a new Merck vaccine to prevent the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, are being reported in the District of Columbia and 20 states, including Virginia. The reactions range from loss of consciousness to seizures.
"Young girls are experiencing severe headaches, dizziness, temporary loss of vision and some girls have lost consciousness during what appear to be seizures," said Vicky Debold, health policy analyst for the National Vaccine Information Center. READ MORE >>
Negative side effects of Gardasil, a new Merck vaccine to prevent the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, are being reported in the District of Columbia and 20 states, including Virginia. The reactions range from loss of consciousness to seizures.
"Young girls are experiencing severe headaches, dizziness, temporary loss of vision and some girls have lost consciousness during what appear to be seizures," said Vicky Debold, health policy analyst for the National Vaccine Information Center. READ MORE >>
2.05.2007
Texas Govenor Mandates Anti-Cancer Vaccine for Schoolgirls
By employing an executive order, Govenor Rick Perry has bypassed the state Legislature by mandating that all schoolgirls in Texas entering the 6th grade are to receive Merck & Co.'s new vaccine against strains of the sexually transmitted human papillomvirus, or HPV, that are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.
Perry has several ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, his former chief of staff. His current chief of staff's mother-in-law, Texas Republican state Rep. Dianne White Delisi, is a state director for Women in Government. The governor also received $6,000 from Merck's political action committee
during his re-election campaign.
With at least 18 states debating whether to require Merck's Gardasil vaccine for schoolgirls, Merck has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country.
This news provides a vivid example of government corruption involving pharmaceutical lobbying, bribing and manipulating health care policy decisions.
Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit stating that he or she objected to the vaccine for religious or philosophical reasons.
The question is, will our constitutional checks and balances continue to let our executive branch of gevernment make new laws?
One has to wonder, why are parents ready to put chemicals into little girls bodies without a full understanding of what harm those chemicals could cause in the short and long term?
Perry has several ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, his former chief of staff. His current chief of staff's mother-in-law, Texas Republican state Rep. Dianne White Delisi, is a state director for Women in Government. The governor also received $6,000 from Merck's political action committee
during his re-election campaign.
With at least 18 states debating whether to require Merck's Gardasil vaccine for schoolgirls, Merck has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country.
This news provides a vivid example of government corruption involving pharmaceutical lobbying, bribing and manipulating health care policy decisions.
Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit stating that he or she objected to the vaccine for religious or philosophical reasons.
The question is, will our constitutional checks and balances continue to let our executive branch of gevernment make new laws?
One has to wonder, why are parents ready to put chemicals into little girls bodies without a full understanding of what harm those chemicals could cause in the short and long term?
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