Hartzler tells EPA, don't fine farmers 'for creating dust'

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler said Thursday that the House Agriculture Committee opposes an attempt by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to declare rural dust "particulate matter" and fine farmers for stirring it up.

"We had Lisa Jackson, the EPA director, testify and expressed our disapproval of the way she is conducting her agency," Hartzler said from Washington. "We called on her to back off the onerous rules and regulations they're developing under the Clean Air Act to define ordinary dust as particulate matter that would have to be regulated and reduced.

"Anyone who lives in the country knows that is ridiculous. You can't run a tractor or drive down a country road without creating dust; so we're asking her to exempt dust and not impact the farming community."

In a wide-ranging telephone interview that also covered funding the federal government, debating balanced budget and "Defense of Marriage" bills and avoiding cuts in defense appropriations, Hartzler said the EPA "is making life miserable for farms and small businesses and going far beyond what they're supposed to be doing."

Particulate matter is usually defined as things like carbon black soot, aerosols, asbestos fibers and airborne particles from volcanoes, forest fires and grass fires, according to references.

The Republican was not among 54 members of her party who had voted against a resolution to keep funding the government, but she said the GOP Caucus will probably not approve another temporary extension after the April 8 deadline. "There was some disagreement about tactics," she said.

"I voted to move forward while continuing to cut spending. The goal is to keep the government going while doing the people's work to rein in runaway spending.

"We've cut $6 billion from a variety of programs, including unspent earmarks from last year's budget and programs President Obama had proposed cutting, and we hope the Senate agrees to all the cuts."

Reporting that House Speaker John Boehner and other leaders will finalize their budget in April, Hartzler said the balanced budget plan has garnered some support because many House members are worried about the nation's borrowing.

"This is the key to getting our fiscal house in order," she said. "Like Missouri, most states require a balanced budget. It's poor public policy for the federal government to borrow 42 cents of every dollar it spends, much of that from China.

"That's why we're aggressively pursuing cuts. Families in the 4th Congressional District are having to tighten their belts and Washington should, too."

Delivering on a promise from her campaign against longtime Democratic Rep. Ike Skelton last year, Hartzler is lead sponsor of the "Defense of Marriage Act," leading her and 94 co-sponsors into a confrontation with Obama.

"It establishes the sense of Congress that we support marriage between a man and woman as wise public policy," she said. "It calls on the president to uphold his oath and defend the laws of the people.

"The law was upheld by four federal courts and was on its way to the Supreme Court on Feb. 23, Obama directed the attorney general and Justice Department to cease defending it in court.

"Because Obama took this unprecedented, shocking step, we have moved forward and directed the House general counsel to defend it in his stead."

Also an Armed Services Committee member, Hartzler heard Maj. Gen. David Petraeus' report on the military's efforts toward victory in Afghanistan, where soldiers are concentrating on stabilizing the area near Pakistan. "The House freshmen sent a letter to the House leadership today asking to keep defense spending as a priority in the 2012 budget," she said.

"One thing the Constitution does say we're supposed to do is provide for the common defense. Gen. Petraeus shared with us the progress made in Afghanistan and how it is reversible.

"He said we have to stay the course and finish the work on infrastructure and helping the Afghan people to have economic development and a stable society. He is working with President Karzai to have a government free of corruption and committed to rooting out the Taliban and Al Qaeda.