products and markets.
West Virginia Farm Bureau strongly supports
preserving the position of an elected Commissioner
of Agriculture. We also oppose the reduction of
authority and responsibilities of that office.
WVFB supports an amendment to the West
Virginia Constitution that clearly identifies the
qualifications of the West Virginia Commissioner
of Agriculture. The qualifications should include
someone who is educated in a science of agriculture
and who receives farm status for his or her agriculture
land base or files a US IRS Schedule F with his or her
Federal Income Taxes. The farm status or Schedule
F shall have been filed for at least the five (5) years
prior to holding office.
34. SUCCESSION OF GOVERNOR
West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends that state
statute be changed to clearly define the constitutional
process regarding who the successor will be in the
event the Governor vacates or cannot serve the
remainder of the term. Our recommendation is not to
create a new office such as Lieutenant Governor. We
recommend the President of the Senate should be the
next to serve as governor in case the office is vacated,
and should complete the current term.
35. TERM LIMITATIONS FOR ELECTED
OFFICIALS
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports term
limits for members of Congress and the West
Virginia Legislature.
We propose a limit of two, six-year terms in
succession for U.S. Senators and six, two-year
terms in succession for members of the U.S. House
of Representatives. We recommend comparable
12-year limits for members of the West Virginia
Senate, House of Delegates and State Supreme
Court of Appeals.
36. OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
AND ELECTION OF STATE OFFICIALS
West Virginia Farm Bureau is opposed to the
creation of the office of Lieutenant Governor. The
state population, tax base, and requirements of this
office would not justify the creation of another
executive position.
14 West Virginia Farm Bureau News
We further recommend that all of the present
state elective offices be continued as such and
that the Executive Branch of Government should
not be expanded.
37. CONSOLIDATION OF CITY & COUNTY
GOVERNMENTS
Should government consolidation be proposed,
each incorporated municipality and the voting
precincts in the areas of the county outside the
municipality must approve the consolidation by a
two-thirds majority vote.
38. REVISION OF STATE CONSTITUTION
West Virginia Farm Bureau opposes a State
Constitutional Convention for the purpose of a
general redrafting of the existing Constitution.
39. AMENDMENTS FOR BOND AND LEVY
ISSUES
West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends
that amendments for bond and levy issues not
be presented to the people by municipalities,
counties or the Legislature unless it is clearly
stated how the bonds are to be retired, and how
the funds are to be distributed.
40. WORDING ON BALLOTS
West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends that
amendments or issues placed on the ballot for voter
consideration be worded in such a manner that a
simple yes or no means exactly that, and not be
worded in such a manner as to confuse the voter.
41. RECALL OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS
West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends that
public officials in West Virginia be subject to recall
with the possibility of removal from office by
popular vote.
FEDERAL
42. DESECRATION OF THE UNITED STATES
FLAG
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that
states could not impose a penalty for desecration of