hagstromreport Friday, November 8, 2013 | Volume 3, Number 189 Obama cites farm bill as No. 1 economic priority USDA announces record-setting corn crop Immigration groups target nine Republicans Farm bill conferees talk food-stamp cuts USDA announces promotions, new hires A clarification No Hagstrom Report on Monday *** Obama cites farm bill as No. 1 economic priority ObamaBarack2013 President Barack Obama In a speech in New Orleans today, President Barack Obama listed passing a farm bill as the No. 1 way that Democrats and Republicans can increase jobs in the economy. “Helping American businesses grow; creating more jobs — these are not Democratic or Republican priorities,” Obama said. “They are priorities that everybody, regardless of party, should be able to get behind. And that’s why, in addition to working with Congress to grow our exports, I’ve put forward additional ideas where I believe Democrats and Republicans can join together to make progress right now.” “Number one,” Obama said, “Congress needs to pass a farm bill that helps rural communities grow and protects vulnerable Americans.” “For decades, Congress found a way to compromise and pass farm bills without fuss. For some reason, now Congress can’t even get that done,” he said. “Now, this is not something that just benefits farmers. Ports like this one depend on all the products coming down the Mississippi. So let’s do the right thing, pass a farm bill. We can start selling more products. That’s more business for this port. And that means more jobs right here.” Obama listed immigration reform and “a responsible budget” as his second and third priorities. During the speech at the Port of New Orleans, Obama pointed out the port’s importance to U.S. agricultural exports and to the end of red tape that is slowing infrastructure improvements. “In so many ways, this port is representative of what ports all around the country do: They help to keep our economy going — moving products, moving people, making sure that businesses are working,” Obama said. “Youve got corn and wheat that’s coming down from my home state of Illinois down the river, ending up here, and then going all around the world. And it’s part of the reason why we’ve been able to increase exports so rapidly, is because we’ve got some of the best natural resources and waterways and facilities in the world.” “If there’s one thing that members of Congress from both parties want, it’s smart infrastructure projects that create good jobs in their districts,” he continued. “That’s why, last year, I took the step without Congress to speed up the permitting process for big infrastructure projects like upgrading our ports. Just cut through the red tape. Get it done faster.” Obama also noted that on the trip he had learned that the Port of New Orleans handles a lot of the nation’s coffee, “which means you’re responsible for keeping the White House awake at all times.” White House — Remarks by the President on the Economy: Port of New Orleans *** USDA announces record-setting corn crop The Agriculture Department said today that the U.S. corn crop will be a record-setter — 30 percent bigger than last year’s drought-shortened harvest — that results in the largest ending stocks since 2006, but lower than market expectations, Reuters reported today. Corn and soybean futures rose slightly, The Wall Street Journal reported. That might give a boost to critics of corn-based ethanol who want either the Environmental Protection Agency or Congress to lower its usage in the nations gasoline supply, although corn prices are 40 percent lower than a year ago. Pro-ethanol groups said there is plenty of corn. Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis stated, “It is clear from this report that the food versus fuel debate over the U.S. renewable fuel policy can be put to bed. Our farmers have once again proven we can produce abundant quantities of high quality food, feed, fiber and renewable fuel.” Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen said, “This historic crop underscores the urgency of maintaining demand. Now, more than ever, the Renewable Fuel Standard must stand as is. No cuts, no reductions. This country will be swimming in excess corn if the RFS requirements are cut.” “The ending-stocks ratio for corn is projected at 14.6 percent, which would be the largest stock-use ratio since 2005,” American Farm Bureau Federation economist Todd Davis said in a news release. “This increase in stocks will likely cause prices to decline from a marketing-average price of $6.89 per bushel for 2012-2013 to a projected $4.50 per bushel for 2013-2014,” he said. The 2013 corn yield is estimated at 160.4 bushels per acre, up about 5 bushels from the last report in September. Reuters — USDA says corn crop sets record, stocks smaller than expected USDA — Crop Production Report USDA — World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates *** Farm bill conferees talk food-stamp cuts Farm-bill conferees are discussing setting the level of food-stamp reductions at about $10 billion over the next decade, a compromise between the Senates proposed $4 billion cut and the Houses $39 billion in savings, National Journal reported today. But that final number could change depending on what policy strings will have to be attached to such a deal to get House conservatives to go along — and any such moves would have to steer clear of alienating too many House and Senate Democrats, National Journal noted. Some Democrats want to take into consideration the $11 billion cut that has gone into effect due to the expiration of the Recovery Act boost to food stamp benefits, but Republicans resist that idea, the story said. National Journal — Farm-Bill Conferees Consider Compromise Cut to Food Stamps *** Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif. Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif. Rep. Buck McKeon, R-Calif. Rep. Gary Miller, R-Calif. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Fla. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M. Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev. Immigration groups target nine Republicans Immigration advocates, religious groups and labor unions announced Thursday that they will target nine Republican House members (pictured above), many with substantial farm worker populations, with a campaign to try to force the House Republican leadership to bring up immigration reform legislation this year. The campaign, branded “The Cost of Inaction,” will involve thousands of visits to constituents in the congressional districts over the next few weeks while labor unions also conduct television and online advertising campaigns to tie together the impact of current immigration rules on immigrant workers and the potential political fallout for the members if they do not convince the House Republican leadership to bring up immigration legislation. All nine House members have said they favor a path toward legalization and citizenship, the organizers said at a news conference in the Methodist headquarters on Capitol Hill. Two of the targeted members — Jeff Denham and David Valadao — have endorsed the Democrats’ comprehensive immigration reform, but the organizers said that they want to push them to push the leadership harder. A third Republican, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, has also endorsed the legislation, but the organizers said they are not targeting her because they do not believe they can have an impact in her district. The members who will be targeted won with less than 55 percent of the vote and are considered to be in toss-up districts in 2014, noted Tom Snyder, the immigration campaign director for the AFL-CIO. Gusatavo Andrade, the organizing director of CASA in Action, said, “Latinos have long memories,” and pointed out that the number of Hispanic voters is growing every year. Eddie Carmona, the campaign manager for Campaign for Citizenship/PICO Action Fund, said the point of the campaign is “a down payment on 2014” and to give Republicans a glimpse of what they can expect next year. Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice, praised the business community for its activism, but said he wishes business leaders would “get a little edgier.” The Republican Party, he said, faces a choice between business and “the nihilistic tea party.” Snyder said the combined effort between the United Farm Workers and agricultural employers “has been great,” but that the agriculture coalition and the coalition between the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce face the same difficulty in trying to convince the House leadership to take up immigration legislation. The UFW is not directly involved in this effort, but a UFW spokeswoman said the union backs the campaign. She also noted that on Wednesday a union delegation staged a sit-in at the Bakersfield, Calif., office of House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., chanting, singing and refusing to leave until McCarthy signed a pledge to advance comprehensive immigration reform in the House. When McCarthy’s office closed for the day at 5 p.m., the spokeswoman said, a group of 13 women refused to leave. At 11 p.m. they “succeeded in luring” him out of his home “and engaged him in conversation about his lack of leadership in advancing immigration reform,” she said. McCarthy assured them he is “serious about solving the problem” but refused to sign a pledge to push for a House vote on immigration, the spokeswoman said. The Real Cost of Inaction on Immigration *** USDA announces promotions, new hires Suzanne Palmieri Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has named Suzanne Palmieri, who was chief of staff to former Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, as associate administrator and coordinator for global food security in the Foreign Agricultural Service. Palmieri will coordinate USDA’s efforts under President Barack Obama’s “Feed the Future” initiative and other matters related to FAS’s work overseas in developing countries. Palmieri worked closely with FAS in her work for Merrigan, but she also served at the Peace Corps, the U.S. Agency for International Development and as special assistant to the Agriculture undersecretary for rural development in the Clinton administration. She has also worked at the State Department, and began her career in Washington working for Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., in both his personal office and on the Senate Agriculture Committee. She grew up in Arkansas and also worked for Bill Clinton when he was governor of that state. Norah Deluhery Vilsack also named Norah Deluhery as director of the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Deluhery has held that position in an acting capacity and previously was policy adviser for Lets Move!, First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative to fight childhood obesity. Deluhery joined the White House staff while serving as special assistant to Agriculture Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon. Formerly from Iowa, she received a bachelor’s degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington. Deluhery succeeds Max Finberg, who is now a senior adviser to Vilsack focusing on the cultural transformation of USDA and the Strike Force initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity. Courtney Rowe Vilsack has also promoted Courtney Rowe, the USDA press secretary, to deputy communications director, succeeding Justin DeJong, who left earlier this year. Before serving as Vilsack’s primary spokesperson, Rowe spent five years on Capitol Hill, serving as communications director of the Senate Agriculture Committee when Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., chaired that committee, and as associate director of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee. Rowe is from from Stamps, Ark., and earned a degree in journalism from Arkansas State University. William McGowan Vilsack also announced that William McGowan will join the Agriculture Department in late November as state director for rural development in Delaware and Maryland. McGowan has spent 12 years of management in the agriculture supply and horticulture industry and has been a cooperative extension agent at the University of Delaware. At the university, he served as co-director of the Sustainable Coastal Communities Program, a partnership that included the Sea-Grant Marine Advisory Service, the Institute for Public Administration and Delaware Cooperative Extension, which focused on public issues in Delaware. Other appointments Sanah Baig as confidential assistant in Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Baig joined USDA’s White House Liaison Office in June 2011 as a staff associate and assistant to the liaison. She was primarily responsible for vetting nominees to more than 200 federal advisory committees and boards, as well as managing logistics for special events. Before joining USDA, she was the chief administrative intern at the National Labor Relations Board for two years. In the summer of 2008, she worked on extramural grants and agreements for USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville. She grew up in northern Virginia and earned a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs and psychology from the University of Virginia. Tara Rice as special assistant in Rural Development. Rice served as a Heyman Federal Public Service Fellow at the USDA. She is a graduate of Yale Law School and a fifth-generation Montanan from a ranch near Choteau, Mont. Rice was a Fulbright scholar in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and worked in northern China on an English language textbook. Hillary Caron as legislative analyst in the Office of Congressional Relations. Caron was a nutrition policy staffer for the Senate Agriculture Committee where she helped develop the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. During law school, she interned at the White House, in the USDA’s Office of General Counsel, and at Partnership for a Healthier America, a nonprofit that works with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to address childhood obesity. Before joining the Agriculture Committee, she served as a legislative correspondent for Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., and interned in the office of President Barack Obama when he was a senator from Illinois. She holds a law degree from New York University and undergraduate degrees in public policy and African & African American studies from Duke University. Grant Hauschil as confidential assistant in the Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Hasuchil grew up in Fargo, N.D., got involved with the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party at 14 and became an office manager for the re-election campaign of Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., in 2008, the first year he could vote. He studied political science and public administration at the University of North Dakota, and after graduation, started as a Truman Fellow at the USDA in Washington. He served on Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign as a regional get-out-the-vote director. He is working on earning a master’s degree in public policy at George Washington University. Jamal Habibi as confidential assistant in Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Before joining USDA, Habibi worked at the U.S. Green Building Council, where he helped increase university and chapter participation. He also worked with Business Forward to help organize the 2013 White House Business Leaders Summit. In 2012, Habibi was a field organizer at Obama for America-Florida in Miami. A native of Oakland, Calif., he received a bachelor of arts degree in political science and languages/cultures of Asia at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also studied international relations at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. *** A clarification The Environmental Working Group’s analysis of billionaires and their businesses benefiting from $11.3 million in farm subsidies from 1995 to 2012 discussed in Thursday’s report is based on commodity and disaster assistance, and not conservation subsidies, although the entry for each entity also includes conservation subsidies. EWG favors income limits on commodity subsidies, but in past farm bill debates has opposed income limits on conservation subsidies. Environmental Working Group — Forbes 400 Subsidy Recipients 1995-2012 *** No Hagstrom Report on Monday The Hagstrom Report will not publish on Monday, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. We will return to your inbox on Tuesday, November 12. © 2011 - 2013 The Hagstrom Report, LLC | PO Box 58183 | Washington, DC 20037-9997
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 00:03:55 +0000