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Original Content at https://www.opednews.com/articles/Taxpayers-Shouldn-t-Have-t-by-William-McMullin-State-Government_Taxes_Taxes_Taxpayers-180913-555.html (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). |
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September 13, 2018
Taxpayers Shouldn't Have to Fund the Dying Dairy Industry
By William McMullin
Michigan should not be giving tax breaks to factory farms.
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Dairy products are linked to heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions causing consumers to choose healthier non-dairy milks. US dairy sales will continue to decline until 2020 [click here].
Yet, the government keeps wasting our taxpayer dollars bailing out the failing dairy industry. For instance, the USDA announced in 2016 it would purchase 11 million pounds of cheese $20 million [click here]. It later announced it would purchase $20 million more cheese [click here]. If the dairy industry doesn't want to change with the market, taxpayers should not be forced to bail them out.
The State of Michigan is giving a new dairy processing plant in St. Johns a tax break for 15 years ["$510M Dairy Processing Facility Planned for Michigan," Detroit News, August 9]. We need to tell the State of Michigan [.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277--267869--,00.html] the new dairy facility should have to pay its fair share of taxes.
William holds a BBA from Western Michigan University and a Master of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School.