Friday, May 23, 2008

NCFC Reports on the Farm Bill

On Wednesday morning, President Bush vetoed the 2008 Farm Bill (H.R. 2419, the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008). In a statement, NCFC expressed its disappointment in the President’s decision, and urged Congress to vote on an override. Late Thursday, the House voted 316-108 to override the veto, garnering the 2/3rds needed. How-ever, it was revealed during debate on floor that the House enrolling clerk had inadvertently omitted Title 3 of the Farm Bill, the title dealing with trade programs and foreign aid, from the official bill sent to the White House and vetoed by the President. Therefore, the override vote by the House only applied to the titles of the farm bill vetoed by the President.

After House and Senate leadership conferred with the clerk’s office and constitutional experts, a precedent was found in a similar situation that occurred in 1892. After considerable debate, the House on Thursday then voted on a new bill containing the entirety of the conference report on H.R. 2419; this bill (H.R. 6124) passed under suspension of the rules by a vote of 306-110. The Senate also on Thursday, following the House’s action, voted 82-13 to override the President’s earlier veto of the Farm Bill, H.R. 2419, thus resulting in the enactment of all provisions less the trade title into law. It is currently anticipated the Senate will take up H.R. 6124 containing the original conference report (including the trade title) after it returns from its Memorial Day recess. Upon passage the bill would then go to the President for further action. In the event of a veto, Congress would vote again to override.

Career Changes

Ross Siragusa, President/CEO of the California Tomato Growers for the past four and half years, is departing on August 1 to become Director of Global Tomato Supply at HJ Heinz. Ross has been serving on the Ag Council’s board of directors since 2005. He’s been a terrific board member and his leadership will truly be missed. We wish him all of the best in his new position.

George Gomes, who has been serving as undersecretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture since March of 2007, has announced his retirement. George has been an outstanding leader in both the public and private sectors. He’s also been a good friend and we’ll definitely miss him in Sacramento. The actual effective date of the retirement has not yet been determined, but it will probably be within 30 days.

Long Haul Carriers

The California Air Resources Board is hosting a series of workshops scheduled for June to discuss the proposed regulation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from long-haul tractors and trailers. The proposed regulatory requirements specifically apply to heavy-duty tractors that pull 53-foot box-type trailers and 53-foot box-type trailers used in long-haul transportation. Under the current proposal, drivers, motor carriers, independent owner/operators, brokers, and California businesses that ship and/or receive freight in 53-foot box-type trailers will all share the responsibility of ensuring that affected tractors and trailers comply with this measure’s requirements. During the scheduled workshops, staff will discuss draft regulatory language, answer questions, and receive industry comments. Staff will also discuss how stakeholders will be affected by this regulation with specific focus on requirements applicable to trailer owners, brokers, California businesses that ship and/or receive freight in 53-foot box-type trailers, and others within the logistics industry. Click here to visit the website and download a copy of the Workshop Notice.

Diesel Clean-up Funds

The Governor's revised May budget has allocated an additional $48 million to the Air Resources Board to help low-income truckers comply with regulations aimed at cleaning up diesel emissions from trucks and buses. The funds will help truckers pay for the engine retrofits and replacements that will be required beginning in 2010. An estimated 420,000 trucks and buses registered in California as well as those coming in from other states are affected by the new requirements. The funds will be used to facilitate low interest loans to help truckers install soot filtration devices or completely replace older, dirtier engines. The funds will also be used to help truckers add devices such as side skirts and wider tires that reduce aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance of trailers, which save fuel and thus lessen greenhouse gas emissions. Assuming the funding survives the current budget negotiations, it will provide some assistance. However, the entire diesel replacement-retrofit program is projected to cost the trucking industry $3.6 to $5.5 billion from 2010 to 2021.

Imminent Domain - Voter Survey

The Public Policy Institute of California released a comprehensive survey covering voter perceptions on a number of state fiscal issues relating to the governor’s budget plan, priorities for state spending, attitudes toward spending and revenue proposals, and preferences on fiscal reforms. The survey included the two major ballot measures, Propositions 98 and 99, that are aimed at changing the government’s power to take private property. The results were reported as follows:

“While seven in 10 likely voters say the government’s power of eminent domain needs major changes (39%) or minor ones (32%), support for these two propositions is falling short of approval. Proposition 98, which would bar state and local governments from seizing private property to give it to another private party, would also ban rent control. When they are read the ballot measure, 30 percent of likely voters say they would vote yes, 48 percent would vote no, and 22 percent are not sure. This is a drop in support for the measure since March (37% yes, 41% no, 22% unsure). When asked their views about rent control, 54 percent of likely voters say it is a good thing and 38 percent say it is a bad thing. Attitudes toward rent control are favorable among both homeowners (51%) and renters (63%). A majority of Democrats (66%) and half of independents (51%) favor rent control, while a majority of Republicans (53%) say it is a bad thing. Proposition 99, which would block the government from taking a single family home or condominium to transfer to another private party, would allow eminent domain for public uses and would not ban rent control. Among likely voters, 44 percent say they would vote yes, 36 percent say no, and 20 percent are unsure.”

Ag Vision

The State Board of Food and Agriculture and CDFA are conducting a series of listening sessions that will provide a forum for the industry and public to give their input into a California strategic agricultural vision. This vision will be used to guide public policy and investment priorities at the state and national level for the next 20 years. Participants are being asked to address one or more of the following questions:

1. What is your vision for California agriculture by 2030? 
2. What will be the biggest challenge in achieving that vision?
3. In 2030, how has public perception of agriculture changed?
4. What is a “must have” in an Ag Vision for California?

Session dates and locations (details found at www.cdfa.ca.gov/agvision):

• Wednesday, May 28 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Redding
• Thursday, May 29 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Sacramento
• Tuesday, July 1 from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. in San Luis Obispo
• Wednesday, July 2 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Tulare
• Monday, July 7 from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. in Oxnard
• Tuesday, July 8 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Escondido