Thank goodness...
Over the past few years, small business owners and agriculture producers alike have been burdened with the prospect of unnecessary and overreaching regulations, and again this summer the federal government created confusion and uncertainty for South Dakotans. The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) sought comment on a draft proposal that would require Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL) for the operation of tractors and other farm equipment on public roads. As certain heavy equipment does require a CDL, federal law allows each state to waive the CDL requirement for the farming and ranching communities for driving agriculture-related equipment short distances. Without this exemption, farmers would be required to have additional documentation, maintain health records, log their travel, and restrict the age of those permitted to drive farm equipment, all of which would increase costs without a clear benefit.
Knowing that this proposed change would only hurt South Dakota's leading economic engine, Senator Thune led 21 of his Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to the Department of Transportation expressing opposition to the proposal. Shortly after receiving the letter, the FMCSA stated it would not implement any new CDL requirements. This is good news for the agriculture producers across the state, as the overreaching and unnecessary requirement would have burdened farmers with more red tape.
Nevertheless, South Dakotans are still affected by an array of overreaching federal regulations. The Small Business Administration has projected that the "annual cost of federal regulations total $1.75 trillion, or $10,585 per small business employee." With this staggering figure in mind, Senator Thune will continue the fight to keep regulations from overburdening both the agriculture and business communities in South Dakota.
Over the past few years, small business owners and agriculture producers alike have been burdened with the prospect of unnecessary and overreaching regulations, and again this summer the federal government created confusion and uncertainty for South Dakotans. The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) sought comment on a draft proposal that would require Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL) for the operation of tractors and other farm equipment on public roads. As certain heavy equipment does require a CDL, federal law allows each state to waive the CDL requirement for the farming and ranching communities for driving agriculture-related equipment short distances. Without this exemption, farmers would be required to have additional documentation, maintain health records, log their travel, and restrict the age of those permitted to drive farm equipment, all of which would increase costs without a clear benefit.
Knowing that this proposed change would only hurt South Dakota's leading economic engine, Senator Thune led 21 of his Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to the Department of Transportation expressing opposition to the proposal. Shortly after receiving the letter, the FMCSA stated it would not implement any new CDL requirements. This is good news for the agriculture producers across the state, as the overreaching and unnecessary requirement would have burdened farmers with more red tape.
Nevertheless, South Dakotans are still affected by an array of overreaching federal regulations. The Small Business Administration has projected that the "annual cost of federal regulations total $1.75 trillion, or $10,585 per small business employee." With this staggering figure in mind, Senator Thune will continue the fight to keep regulations from overburdening both the agriculture and business communities in South Dakota.
