20021025 Stull connects with farmers by Andrew Symonds Frederick News-Post Staff

Stull connects with farmers

By Andrew Symonds Frederick News-Post Staff

October 25, 2002

Paul Stull

In a county with a large farming population, Republican Paul Stull feels his background as a "farm boy" allows him to appreciate the concerns and problems of District 4A's farming community.

"I've been big on agricultural issues," the eight-year delegate said. "I like to work for the dairy farmers and I like to work for agriculture throughout the state.

"We have some issues that really need to be worked on as far as the nutrient management program goes. I think it's too stringent, I think they have a lot of foolish regulations there that are being dictated to farmers. I tried to modify that last year, but it got held up in the Senate at the 11th hour and never made it out," he said.

Mr. Stull said he takes a personal interest in agricultural issues and works hard to research them.

"A couple of years ago, I worked day and night on the Northeast Dairy Compact to get farmers a better price for their milk. And we made it through. It passed both houses and it was signed into law, but because of other issues on a federal level, we couldn't implement it."

Getting legislation passed in Annapolis is a priority to Mr. Stull, who said he has taken a proactive approach in the past to get backing for his projects.

"I had the big idea that in order to get more in the rural areas, we would form a caucus in western Maryland, southern Maryland, the Eastern Shore. It worked a number of times when they could collectively bring together those regions. We commanded quite a number of votes.

"On big issues we still had trouble because we were outvoted by metropolitan areas, but in some issues we could convince people that -- hey, they do deserve some recognition in the legislation that they are proposing," he said.

"I think it was a big plus for us during my tenure in Annapolis and I pushed for that quite a bit. If I make it back I'll be a big advocate to help pull together different caucuses for legislation. I think it's one of the ways we can make a difference in the legislation that comes out," he said.

"I don't look at it as being a Republican issue, a Democratic issue. I look at it as being issues that are going to help voters and constituents in Frederick County, western Maryland and in the rural areas."

Because of the high growth rate in Frederick County, Mr. Stull said the area is in a difficult position when education funding is calculated.

"Those formulas were fine, but they didn't take into account Frederick County when we're growing so fast," he said. "The formula lagged back one or two years and we needed the buildings now, and without upfront funds we've fallen behind.

"The new Thornton Commission is taking into account the richer counties as opposed to the poorer counties and trying to work this up."

But Mr. Stull questions the new revenue sources used to fund that plan.

"Your biggest factor is the 34 cents that was set aside for the tobacco tax, but now we're hearing that the sale of cigarettes, because they're so high, is tapering off. Because we, as a small state, live so close to border states, you can go buy your cigarettes cheaper in Virginia or Pennsylvania. Our businesses are losing money."

Mr. Stull said that Maryland is losing other revenues to neighboring states as well and may need to allow slot machines.

"With that in mind I have changed my mind somewhat in the area of slots and gambling."