Washington Update Chuck Conner November 2017
Followers of Trump s social media accounts In millions, as of June 17, 2017 Twitter @POTUS Twitter @realdonaldtrump Facebook YouTube Instagram 4.3 7 18.8 President Trump has made it clear that he sees Twitter as a way of circumventing the fake media when he feels his opinion isn t getting across While many of the followers of his various accounts overlap, CNN estimates his total social media audience is approximately 60 million individuals 22.4 32.4
What s The President the most important has also been factor in writing the new farm bill? non-traditional in selecting his high-level Administration officials
Trump s cabinet has less government experience than previous administrations Comparison of recent presidents first cabinets As of Dec. 15 th, 2016, subject to change pending confirmation President Male White Government experience Former generals Billionaires 83% 74% 96% 4% 0% George W. Bush 65% 52% 87% 4% 0% Barack Obama Donald Trump* 76% 82% 41% 12% 12% Source: Brendan Coffey, Brandon Kochkodin and Yvette Romero, Trump s $6 billion cabinet: mostly men, mostly white, and not much government experience, Bloomberg, December 15,2016.
President Trump s Cabinet has significant business experience Percentage of total cabinet members without public-sector experience Republicans Democrats 40% 38% 35% 30% 33% 31% 30% 25% 20% 20% 18% 17% 17% 20% 20% 20% 20% 15% 10% 7% 7% 10% 11% 11% 10% 13% 13% 13% 14% 5% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Source: Drew Desilver, Trump s Cabinet will be one of the most business-heavy in U.S. history, Pew Research, January 19, 2017. 7
In Congress, Republicans do control both chambers. However, GOP leaders in each face unique challenges to moving their agenda forward.
Far left and far right hold considerable sway over their respective parties in the House House makeup by caucus membership Freedom Caucus Progressive Caucus Vacancies Mainstream Republicans Mainstream Democrats Tuesday Group (Mod. Rep.) Blue Dog Coalition (Cons. Dem.) House Republican Conference 239 Freedom Caucus 30* Tuesday Group 50* House Democratic Caucus 193 Blue Dog Coalition 17 Progressive Caucus 70 Vacancies 3 30 159 50 17 106 70 Whip stats Republicans hold a 46-seat lead A majority requires 217 votes (if all members cast a ballot) If Republicans lose all Freedom Caucus votes, they require 7 centrist Democratic votes to form a majority *Estimated caucus size; rosters have not been finalized and published for the 115 th Congress. The House Freedom Caucus does not publish its member list. Sources: National Journal Research, 2017.
In the Senate, GOP leaders have a narrow majority and are well short of the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture Democrats Republicans Independents Control of the 115 th Senate (2016-2018) 46-2-52 Republican Senate Majority 10
Implications for Agriculture and Farmer Co-ops In a time of disruption and polarization, if progress on a range of issues is going to be made, we need to reinforce relationships with key allies and spur grassroots engagement to enlarge our coalition.
Ag s Team
Top Issues for NCFC in 2017/2018 Tax reform Preparations for the 2018 Farm Bill Immigration reform Trade policy GMO disclosure implementation Pension
Tax Reform
Current Status House Ways & Means expected to release bill language later today; markup slated for next week. Senate bill could be released as early as late next week. As with any major overhaul of the tax code, the bills stand to impact different sectors and different states in dramatically different ways.
Concerns for Farmer Co-ops Section 199 deduction. Section 199 deduction. Section 199 deduction.
Key NCFC Messages on Section 199 Tax reform should recognize the unique structure of farmer cooperatives and their unique relationship with Tax reform should not raises taxes on farmers across the country which repeal of Section 199 would do. Farmers have been told that tax reform will give them more money in their pockets to invest in rural America. A tax bill that does the opposite is unacceptable.
Some State Impacts of Section 199 State Total DPAD Value Illinois $41,241,056 Iowa $67,121,336 Kansas $26,416,837 Minnesota $131,145,613 Nebraska $60,290,156 North Dakota $72,459,816 South Dakota $79,904,534 Wisconsin $65,274,664
What YOU Can Do Call your members of Congress both the House and Senate to deliver this simple message: Ending Section 199 for agriculture will raise taxes for farmers and ranchers in our state. This provision has worked as intended and has helped boost the rural economy. We need tax reform that puts more money into rural communities, not less. US Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Some Good News On The Pension Front New bill would ease funding requirements for rural cooperative multiple-employer pension plans. H.R. 3596, Rightsizing Pension Premiums Act of 2017, led by Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Ron Kind (D-WI) will adjust PBGC premiums to better reflect the low risk of these plans. More than 400 farmer cooperatives across the country today participate, as well as for other small employers that sponsor their own defined-benefit pension plans.
Immigration Reform
Current Status Addressing Agriculture s Issues House Judiciary Committee last week marked up and approved a bill providing a guest worker program for agriculture a major accomplishment! While the bill does have many provisions of concern to producers, getting a bill out of committee is an important step in this process. Senate will wait for House to move first. Despite rhetoric on enforcement, administration sympathetic to ag s needs. Sec. Perdue publicly stated resolving our workforce issues is a top priority for him.
Key Messages to Congress Farmers, ranchers and growers across the country and across the country are facing a critical shortage of the skilled workers needed to harvest their crops or care for their animals. The Agricultural Workforce Coalition continues to push for a legislative solution to this problem that addresses both the current and future labor needs of agriculture. We oppose making the E-verify program mandatory for agricultural employers unless it is coupled with a solution that addresses agriculture s labor needs.
84.6% Farm Bill
What s the most important factor in writing the next farm bill? The amount of money the ag committees will have to work with, and what programs that money is currently in.
Several Current Commodity Programs Need Fixes (some minor, some significant) to Ensure a Broad Safety Net Dairy Cotton ARC County
The Farm Bill Coalition Fewer than 50 House districts are majority ag. An urban-rural coalition of agriculture, nutrition advocates and conservation groups has been instrumental in passing the farm bill. Do not see a way to passage without a coalition this time.
NCFC Priorities Crop Insurance Trade Timing Fixing what needs to be fixed in Title 1
Trade
What do NAFTA (and possibly KORUS) renegotiations hold for ag? A Trump/Pence presidency will negotiate better trade deals for our manufacturing sector while continuing to protect and defend our vital agricultural export markets.
Agriculture has an ally in Secretary Perdue
GMO Labeling
Any Questions? Thank You!