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12/17/10The Lame Duck V● The end of the 111th Congress is in sight. At worse, it will expire January 4. More likely it will find its natural end prior to Christmas Day.● Late last night, the House of Representatives finally passed a major and controversial tax bill, H.R. 4853, and sent it to the President for his signature today. Fears about passing down the family farm should ease with the adoption of a $5 million exemption level from federal estate taxation. Also, included is a continuation of the IC-DISC tax preference, one that helps small exporters, including some in our tree fruit industry.● Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gave up on trying to pass a complicated and, many said bloated, Continuing Resolution on spending, which was primarily aimed at keeping the U.S. government open and... |
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12/13/10The Lame Duck IV● The 111th Congress continues its slow, staggering limp toward final adjournment, perhaps ending its active life by mid-next week. A quick state-of-play for issues of special interest to the tree fruit industry: FDA food safety reform is now highly likely, given S. 510’s embedment in a must-pass spending measure; immigration reform (the DREAM Act) is dead; the “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act,” a major nutrition bill beneficial to fruit and vegetable growers was signed today by President Obama; and, a $5 million exemption is now almost certain for new federal estate taxes.● “Sustainable”—when this nebulous word is used, be on your guard, especially when used by an agency that regulates, among other things, agricultural chemicals. For example, EPA... |
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11/30/10The Lame Duck III● This morning the U.S. Senate passed S. 510, “The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act”: the vote was 73 to 25. The measure now goes to the House of Representatives, where it is likely to be accepted without change. The Northwest Horticultural Council had joined the United Fresh Produce Association and Produce Marketing Association in opposing S. 510 once it had been amended to exempt certain small businesses. This was a pure political act, at odds with a science-based regulatory system for all food sold in interstate commerce.● Voting for passage of S. 510 today were Senators Merkley and Wyden from Oregon and Senators Cantwell and Murray from Washington. Voting against were Senators Crapo and Risch of Idaho.● One of the major trade associations in Washington, D.C., is... |
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11/19/10The Lame Duck IIMembers of the 111th Congress came back to town on Tuesday for a post-election session. Today they are gone, heading back home for Thanksgiving. They will next appear on the scene the week of November 29. At that point, whatever work that is to be done will need to be done quickly since the pulse of this Congress flatlines on December 31.● Food safety legislation (S. 510) was brought before the Senate by Majority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday. Immediately things went astray when Senator Tom Colburn of Oklahoma protested its cost and questioned its need. Then the majority’s leadership chose to adopt a controversial amendment by Senator Jon Tester of Montana that exempts small farms and community-based agriculture from federal food-safety oversight. This drove the Produce... |
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11/16/10The Lame DuckSenators and representatives shuffled back to the capital this week to conclude legislative business before all power bleeds out of the 111th Congress on December 31. They will meet this week, and likely for at least one additional week in December.Tax and budget bills will dominate the agenda, but the national produce industry is also interested in the fate of three other pending bills: food safety, childhood nutrition, and immigration (the Dream Act). I think all face steep, uphill climbs before enactment into law.Every election cycle produces winners and losers, with the one on November 2 ousting more incumbents than usual. Beyond the obvious change in elected officials is the hard reality now facing all the young, talented staffers who had hitched their star to a now-defeated member... |
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11/05/10Elections 2010: The Senate● Three United States senators from the Pacific Northwest were up for reelection on Tuesday and all won: Senator Mike Crapo (R) in Idaho, Senator Ron Wyden (D) in Oregon, and Senator Patty Murray (D) in Washington.● One significant change in the Senate when it meets in January will be a shift in the chairmanship of its Agriculture Committee. Chairman Blanche Lincoln (D) lost her election in Arkansas on Tuesday and, thus, leadership of this committee is in play. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) of Michigan, someone close to the fruit and vegetable industry, would like to succeed Senator Lincoln, but others might step in, such as Senator Kent Conrad (D) of North Dakota. The Senate’s version of the next Farm Bill will be fashioned in this committee.● It is difficult to see how any... |
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11/03/10Election 2010: Various Observations● Among the more obscure state-level elections, there were two of special interest to national agricultural policy people. In Florida, Adam Putnam, a relatively young member of Congress, easily won the post of commissioner of agriculture. Mr. Putnam has been an effective leader on national fruit and vegetable issues and has exhibited significant political talent in Washington, D.C. This will not be his last win: I think he likely will be a future U.S. senator or governor of Florida.■ In Iowa, there was a conventional agriculture candate (Bill Northey) versus a “sustainable movement” agricultural candidate (Francis Thicke) for the elected position of Iowa’s secretary of agriculture. This race was highlighted in a The Atlantic blog in late October as a tight race... Posted at 02:47 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
11/03/10Elections 2010: The HouseThe 112th Congress will convene in January, 2011, with a solid Republican majority in the House of Representatives. John Boehner of Ohio will likely be the new Speaker, replacing Nancy Pelosi of California. Yesterday’s national election brought few changes to the make-up of the sixteen member delegation serving in the House from the Pacific Northwest. In Idaho conservative Walt Minneck (D) lost to Raul Labrador (R). In Washington, Jaime Herrera (R) picked up the open seat in the 3rd District created by the retiring Brain Baird (D). Rick Larsen (D) is in a tight race to retain his 2nd District seat. John Koster may yet beat Mr. Larsen. No changes in Oregon.In the 112th, greater political power will flow to Doc Hastings (R/WA) who is set to become chairman of the... |
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10/27/10PMA/United: A Dark View● The two major trade associations for the nation’s fruit and vegetable industry are the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and the United Fresh Produce Association (United), with the NHC active in each. The two have overlapping, but not entirely congruent, goals and missions that serve to drive a healthy competiveness (optimistic view) or a wasteful duplication of effort (dark view).Three PMA/United items caught my eye this past month: (1) next year United’s popular Washington Public Policy Conference is set for the week of October 3. This timing puts it one week in advance of PMA’s 2011 convention in Atlanta, which is scheduled to start on October 14. Usually these two big industry events are about a month apart, which allows for easier attendance at both for... |
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10/20/10PMA in OrlandoOver the past weekend, I attended the Produce Marketing Association’s annual convention. Most people attend to advance their firm’s commercial interests. They market, promote, and try to make direct contact with that elusive person, a major retail-chain executive responsible for produce sales.So why was I in Orlando? I don’t sell or buy product. It wasn’t to attend Disney World or see the sights. My radius of operation was the Orange County Convention Center and the hotel, where I stayed, across the street.In addition to their more direct and obvious commercial aspects, these modern day fairs bring people together from throughout the country and allow for side meetings and informal conversations related to policy issues of concern to our tree-fruit industry... |
