November 19, 2012
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Ongoing issues carry over to new Congress While some of the most pressing issues facing agriculture and the entire nation must be addressed during the current lame-duck session of Congress, there will be plenty to hash out in the new year, as the 113th Congress comes to Washington, D.C., according to Mark Maslyn, executive director of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation. Looking at 2013, Maslyn said the new Congress will have to deal with impasses over the budget and tax matters. In addition, issues such as farm labor and regulations hang in the balance. At this rate, it also looks like the farm bill will be a top priority for growers in the new year. The Senate passed its version of the farm bill in June and the House Agriculture Committee approved its own legislation the following month. Farmers and ranchers had hoped to see Congress compromise on the two measures before heading home before the election, or at least get it done during the ongoing lame duck. However, lawmakers are far more focused on the looming “fiscal cliff,” expiring tax cuts and other related policy.
“The farm bills each chamber crafted last year are a solid starting point,” said Maslyn. “When Congress really gets down to work on the farm bill, lawmakers should be able to fairly easily get to the compromise stage. Beyond that, yes, there are wrinkles to iron out, but that’s all part of the legislative process.” Farm labor is another concern that with changing political crosscurrents seems to get bumped from one Congress to the next. However, the election may have shifted some of the previous thinking in Congress and created an opportunity for a strategic approach. In addition, agricultural groups are as committed as they have ever been to reach a consensus on a plan for a flexible agricultural worker program that benefits both growers and workers. “Lawmakers have signaled that they’re open to letting farmers and ranchers point them in the right direction on a worker program,” Maslyn said. “But in the past, growers were going too many different ways. Now, when lawmakers start talking in earnest about immigration reform, agriculture can present a united front,
with a well thought-out approach to making sure farmers and ranchers have the labor they need.” While the election brought attention to those who will serve in Congress, farmers and ranchers will need to continue to keep a close eye on the regulatory and legal arenas. Among the many ongoing issues significantly affecting agriculture are those related to water, concentrated animal feeding operations, public lands, air quality, endangered species and biofuels. “As regulators work through these issues, it is helpful to engage and inform lawmakers along the way and encourage them to conduct thorough oversight,” said Maslyn. Whether it’s labor, trade, the farm bill or any other topic, it will be the centrist members of both parties who will have to come together to make it work, he noted. “With Republicans in control of the House and Democrats in charge in the Senate, there will have to be some give and take to get a bill on the president’s desk,” Maslyn said. “Agriculture has always worked in a bipartisan manner, and we will continue to en-
courage congressional leaders to reach across the aisle for the good of farmers and ranchers, and all of America.”
Top ag issues in the 113th Congress Farm bill Most of the programs in the 2008 farm bill expired on Sept. 30. While most farmers are okay for now because the 2008 bill covers the 2012 crops, not just fiscal 2012, dairy farmers are struggling without a Milk Income Loss Contract program. If Congress does not pass a new, 5-year farm bill during the lame duck, lawmakers will have to pick it up in 2013. Farm labor Optimistic that the new Congress provides a new opportunity for reform, farmers and ranchers have come together to develop a blueprint for a worker program that suits growers of all kinds as well as workers.
Democrats keep control of Senate * Incumbent Arizona J. Flake, R R. Carmona, D California D. Feinstein*, D E. Emken, R Connecticut C. Murphy, D L. McMahon, R Delaware T. Carper*, D K. Wade, R Florida B. Nelson*, D C. Mack, R Hawaii M. Hirono, D L. Lingle, R
Indiana
Nebraska
Tennessee
J.Donnelly, D R. Mourdock, R
D. Fischer, R B. Kerrey, D Nevada
B. Corker*, R M. Clayton, D
Maine A. King, O C. Summers, R Maryland B. Cardin*, D D. Bongino, R Massachusetts E. Warren, D S. Brown*, R Michigan D. Stabenow*, D P. Hoekstra, R Minnesota A. Klobuchar*, D K. Bills, R Mississippi R. Wicker*, R A. Gore, D Missouri C. McCaskill*, D T. Akin, R
Democrats = 53 Republicans = 45 Independents = 1 Other = 1
Montana J. Tester*, D D. Rehberg, R
D. Heller*, R S. Berkley, D New Jersey B. Menendez*, D J. Kyrillos, R New Mexico M. Heinrich, D H. Wilson, R New York K. Gillibrand*, D W. Long, R North Dakota H. Heitkamp, D R. Berg, R Ohio S. Brown*, D J. Mandel, R Pennsylvania B. Casey*, D T. Smith, R Rhode Island S. Whitehouse*, D B. Hinckley, R
Texas T. Cruz, R P. Sadler, D Utah O. Hatch*, R S. Howell, D Vermont B. Sanders*, I J. MacGovern, R Virginia T. Kaine, D G. Allen, R Washington M. Cantwell*, D M. Baumgartner, R West Virginia J. Manchin*, D J. Raese, R Wisconsin T. Baldwin, D T. Thompson, R Wyoming J. Barrasso*, R T. Chesnut, D