SEGMENT: GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS & REFLECTIONS
Harold Steele>LPL Interviews N-Z>LPL Interviews K-Z, Segment 11
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- GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
- Steele is against entitlements, but some for ag are okay, such as conservation of soil, etc. Agrees with G.W. Bush on vetoing the farm bill of 2008 because it contains too high subsidies for rich farmers. He is against the safety net provided by a government unless corporations have monopolies. He served with Farm Credit Administration. Tells joke about regulators. Duty was to keep system sound for farmer. Staff of five hundred. Examined books of farm credit system for regulations compliance. Reagan and Bush called for relaxed regulation, with which he agrees, although with safety and soundness. Senate confirmation required for his appointed position. A farm credit-system bank was in trouble in Jackson, MI. Asked if he would take care of it. He had to keep an arm's length from the Farm Credit System. Could not promise Senate that. When looked into it, he found he had authority to bring in outside experts. He brought in an economist, John Brink of New York, and a general counsel. Within six months, the Jackson Bank problem was solved.
- REFLECTIONS
- Farm bureau staff was great in Bloomington. Example was interview with person in 1975, a German Jewish refugee. He told him he was seeing government takeover here like he saw in Germany, etc. Says he admires Farm Bureau for independence and dedicated staff.
