Merits of keeping Ag agency up for debate
Majority Leader pledges cost-cutting review of single-industry $100 million department

SACRAMENTO – Following Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s pledge that every dollar of waste and inefficiency saved will be a dollar that supports critical services such as health care and education, Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter) promptly announced a hearing into the future of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, which his committee oversees.

On June 16, the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture will meet to consider whether or not it makes sense for agriculture to remain the only California industry with its own $100 million general fund-backed agency, when most of its functions could be performed by other departments.

In today’s Bakersfield Californian, Florez had already pledged an in-depth review of efficiencies within CDFA to see what cost savings could be realized for California taxpayers.  Today’s speech by Schwarzenegger gave Florez hope that the Governor will support a more far-reaching overhaul of the department.

“In agriculture, there are business considerations, and there are public health considerations, and we already have agencies that serve both of those functions,” said Florez.  “Agriculture had its own set of rules on air quality and worker protections for a long time, but we have finally reversed those to protect both the environment and public health. There are certainly more changes in the pipeline to protect the state’s finances.”

The Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture will meet to discuss the future of CDFA at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 16, in Room 113 of the California State Capitol.

For Immediate Release                                      Jennifer Hanson
June 2, 2009                                                      916-651-4016

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