FARM BUREAU CHIEF: TAXES POSE THREAT

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 10, 1993                   TAG: 9303100248
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
FARM BUREAU CHIEF: TAXES POSE THREAT
The president of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation says the Clinton Administration's proposed energy and cigarette taxes would threaten the economic vitality of Virginia agriculture.
"I applaud President Clinton's stated goal of deficit reduction, but am disappointed that the plan relies on higher taxes rather than spending cuts to lower the deficit," C. Wayne Ashworth said in a statement over the weekend. "These new proposals would have a heavy impact on agriculture and would drive up farm prices."
Ashworth objected specifically to an energy tax that he said would cost a 430-acre grain operation $800 a year. "That's more than the average Virginia farmer can afford to pay to stay in business," he said.
He also objected to a proposed cigarette tax increase. "This would devastate our nearly 10,000 family farmers who depend on income from tobacco. Smokers already pay their fair share."
- Southwest bureau

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB