Sometimes irony is everywhere.<\/p>\n
We had a full agenda in Agricultural Affairs this morning. I did not expect such a hubbub over raising fees for brand inspections. But such is senate life.<\/p>\n
Brand inspections are done by state brand inspectors. These inspections record transfer of title to, or possession of, livestock.\u00a0 Inspectors authenticate ownership, and are also called to investigate theft. The Idaho Brand Board <\/a>registers brands and keeps track of them. Fees are charged for these services. The Brand Board is funded only with fees; it receives no General Fund money.\u00a0 The Brand Board was bringing a bill before us requesting an increase in their fees.<\/p>\n I made a mistake questioning the brand board director. I was trying to figure out what animals get brands. I should have read the bill more carefully, for it was right there. The director responded soberly, \u201cBy statute, livestock in the state of Idaho are defined as all cattle, horses, mules or asses.\u201d There was tittering in the early morning audience.<\/p>\n A committee member commented that \u201cSome out there might be thinking some here on this committee need inspecting.\u201d<\/p>\n The Brand Board director offered to check for rib marks if such was called for. He was blushing.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it wasn\u2019t that kind of asses they were saying.\u201d The joke took a while to die down.<\/p>\n But soon the question at hand became quite evident. In these times, while we are cutting funding for schools and Medicaid, should we be raising fees on brands? Aren\u2019t we supposed to be shrinking government?<\/p>\n The Brand Board explained they had met with the Cattlemen\u2019s Association and the Dairymen\u2019s Association, both of which agreed a fee increase was reasonable. They would be paying it. And there hadn\u2019t been a fee increase for over 20 years.<\/p>\n I watched this one closely and did not speak. One Senator was quite bothered that we would increase these fees when \u201ctimes are tough\u201d.<\/p>\n We voted 9-1 to raise the fees. We will see how it does on the floor of the Senate. Then there is the House. Times are tough for growth of cooperative effort.<\/p>\n Thank you for comments. All are read but\u00a0I do not post comments.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sometimes irony is everywhere. We had a full agenda in Agricultural Affairs this morning. I did not expect such a hubbub over raising fees for brand inspections. But such is senate life. Brand inspections are done by state brand inspectors. … Continue reading