Politics At Play In Delay Of PMT Study Release

Today, Delegate Mike McDermott (R-38-Lower Shore) questioned the rationale for delaying the release of the economic analysis of the Phosphorus Management Tool (PMT) by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. McDermott said, “Lower Shore farmers believe the Salisbury University study will confirm that the PMT will have a devastating impact on the poultry and grain industries.” The report’s author was ready to release the study over a week ago, but the Department of Agriculture officials delayed it twice citing “unforeseen circumstances.”

“This is unacceptable”, continued Delegate McDermott, “The report is done and we need to see it. Our farmers deserve better than ‘unforeseen circumstances’ as a reason for any delay. Frankly, the General Election is less than a week away and it seems obvious that the PMT has now become the ‘Political Management Tool’ in a vain effort to keep democrats in their seats.”

Politics should not play a role in making good policy decisions. The report should be released immediately so our farming community can review the findings and be prepared to address any changes to be proposed by the O’Malley-Brown administration.

Jim Mathias has publicly claimed that he has “stopped the PMT” when nothing could be further from the truth. While the senator remains idle, the economy of the Eastern Shore hangs in the balance.

Following the election, O’Malley will roll out his changes by Executive Order. Election delays aside, there is only one thing that will stop the implementation of the Phosphorus Management Tool and that is a new governor with a decidedly different view of agriculture than the current administration.

Our people deserve better than delays and false statements from their elected legislators.