Conservation experts and Iowa state officials continue to weigh in on EWG’s Murky Waters report. The analysis underscores the most serious flaw of the federal Clean Water Act: it does little or nothing to address agricultural pollution.
EWG’s Scott Faber joined representatives of several fiscally conservative organizations in calling on Congress not to slip a full farm bill reauthorization into any legislative package they cobble together to avoid the imminent “fiscal cliff.”
Simple good governance and due process are reason enough to demand open deliberation on the farm bill, but there are significant budgetary reasons to insist on it as well, and lawmakers should take note of them.
Congressional leaders in search of a compromise to avoid plunging off the “fiscal cliff” are under growing pressure from the agriculture subsidy lobby and its friends in Congress to attach a subsidy-laden farm bill to legislation ostensibly designed to straighten out the nation’s finances.
Environmental Working Group joined several groups today at the National Press Club to call on lawmakers to stop a secret farm bill from being attached to any legislation designed to straighten out the nation's finances. The groups urged Congress to pass a responsible one-year extension bill that is paid for by eliminating direct payments.
Congressional leaders in search of a compromise to avert the “fiscal cliff” are under growing pressure from advocates for subsidized agriculture to attach a $1 trillion farm bill to legislation ostensibly designed to straighten out the nation’s finances.
Congressional leaders in search of a compromise to avert the “fiscal cliff” are under growing pressure from advocates for subsidized agriculture to attach a $1 trillion farm bill to legislation ostensibly designed to straighten out the nation’s finances.
Environment & Energy Daily (subscription only) reports that free market groups are urging the White House and congressional leaders to avoid using the farm bill as a means to a fiscal cliff deal.
Marcia Zarley Taylor recently posted a blog aptly titled Extreme Insurance. As executive editor of DTN, which publishes The Progressive Farmer magazine and website, Taylor is one of the more cogent observers of crop insurance and this year’s drought.
USA Todayreports American Automobile Association (AAA) has warned today that gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) could cause car damage.
A New York Times headline this month (Nov, 13) read: “The Problem is Clear: The Water is Filthy.” It should have read: “The Problem is Clear: Agriculture Granted the Right to Make the Water Filthy.”
A New York Times headline this month (Nov, 13) read: “The Problem is Clear: The Water is Filthy.” It should have read: “The Problem is Clear: Agriculture Granted the Right to Make the Water Filthy.”
House lawmakers were informed today that if Congress moves on the farm bill during the lame duck session, any amendment votes taken that impact food will be tracked by Food Policy Action’s congressional scorecard. The new organization scores federal lawmakers on how they vote on critical food and farm votes. Click here to read the full letter.
Democrats in Iowa tried hard to turn Congress’ failure to pass a federal farm bill into a political liability for their Republican opponents. It didn’t work.
With the elections finally behind us, Congress has returned to Washington to try to wrap up a slew of unfinished business. Among other things, lawmakers are grappling with how to revive the expired farm bill, while at the same time they must somehow address the looming “fiscal cliff” of higher taxes and crippling budget cuts that could drive the economy back into recession.
The farm bill affects every single taxpayer and everyone who eats. Therefore, every member of Congress has an interest in it, and each should have his or her opportunity to improve it. There are lots of ways to improve the versions that are currently on the table, particularly the House bill, which has never been considered on the floor.
