FIELDS OF DESPAIR,Politicians' farming interests lead to drought of laws f

[Judi Lynn]

Tuesday, Sep 02, 2003


Posted on Tue, Sep. 02, 2003

FIELDS OF DESPAIR
Politicians' farming interests lead to drought of laws for workers
BY RONNIE GREENE
[e-mail]

In Florida, politics and produce are intertwined.

Agricultural interests have poured at least $35 million into state and federal political campaigns in Florida since 1996, powerful proof of the industry's ties with decision-makers.

Yet the ties run deeper than campaign cash to candidates, committees and parties. The House Committee on Agriculture, which helps shape state laws over the industry, is stacked with politician-farmers.

Seven of the committee's 14 members are growers or have ties to agriculture, their financial-disclosure forms show. The influential chairwoman, Marsha ''Marty'' Bowen, R-Winter Haven, is a citrus grower. (snip)

''If there weren't any state troopers on the highway, I'd probably drive faster,'' said Gregory S. Schell, a Lake Worth lawyer with the Migrant Farmworker Justice Project of Florida Legal Services. ``There aren't any state troopers on the labor highway.'' (snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/6671111.htm