Both Political Parties' Platforms Short on Ag Details

With Sen. Dick Durbin (D, IL) telling the media last week the least read documents in any presidential campaign are the party platforms, a comparison of the Democrat and Republican party philosophies committed to paper shows they’re short on attention to rural America and agriculture. However, some details were forthcoming in both broader policy statements issued by candidates or in their responses to media inquiries. The following is a snapshot of both candidates’ broad positions on the issues important to agriculture and agribusiness:

Farm Bill Issues: Both candidates say nice things about federal crop insurance, expanded trade, ag research and dollars for food safety. The Republicans talk about the end of direct payment programs and say risk management options, like crop insurance, are the way to go. The Democrats say much the same thing, but also talk about the need for expanded permanent disaster relief programs. The Democrat platform document also talks about rural development – as the administration has since the beginning of the Farm Bill debate – and talks about a “record number of small business owners” receiving help from the Obama USDA, and tosses in its priority on expanded broadband Internet access and improved “rural water and sewer” infrastructure.” The Democrat platform says the party supports “agriculture from the small farm that feeds the community to the large farms that feed the world.”

Food Safety: Neither party platform talks in detail about feed or food safety, but the GOP document makes broad statements about the need for Congress to ensure the “adequate resources” for USDA to do what it’s supposed to do to keep food safe. The Democrats talk about regulations promulgated during President Obama’s first term that are the reasons “our food is safe to eat, our water is safe to drink and our air is safe to breathe.” GOP candidate Mitt Romney, in response to a United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Assn. (UniFresh) questionnaire, said he favors food safety preventative controls developed by “supply chain stakeholders” and supports commodity-specific requirements for produce associated with foodborne illness outbreaks. He said his administration would “will prioritize this type of cooperation and collaboration with industry on the part of all agencies charged with protecting public health.” Obama points to enactment of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and also gives a nod to cooperation with industry, particularly to ensure small farms can “help to reduce food safety risk.” The President also talks about his creation of a Food Safety Working Group during his first 100 days in office.

Energy: Neither party or candidate talks about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the food versus fuel debate, but Romney, in a separate policy statement, said he favors an RFS approach to emerging energy technologies. The President touts his “all of the above” strategy on developments of alternatives to imported oil, but continues to hold back on drilling on federal land. He wants 80% of the nation’s electricity generated by “clean energy” by 2035, and favors incentives to create more efficient homes, office buildings and government facilities. He also favors repeal of federal tax breaks for big oil and energy companies. Romney believes regulatory reform – “a free market and the public’s preferences” – is the best incentive to develop all forms of alternative energy, and believes the U.S. is underutilizing its reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. The GOP platform says “taxpayers should not serve as venture capitalists for risk endeavors.” He favors investment in nuclear energy, and says public lands must be opened to energy development, along with energy partnerships – including pipelines – with Canada and Mexico.

Regulation: The Republicans, when it comes to regulation, contend private ownership is the best way to ensure environmental stewardship and take dead aim at EPA, again urging Congress to rein in the agency to stop new greenhouse gas regulation and proposing Congress must approve any EPA rule that costs $100 million or more. The Democrats are proud of their EPA record, saying they’ve cut pollution and are “advancing public health.” The Democrats also give a nod to global warming – “one of the biggest threats of this generation” – saying it’s a national security, economic and environmental disaster in the making.

Immigration: Obama strongly supports the DREAM Act – legislation to allow U.S.-born under-31-year-old children of illegal immigrants to receive a deferral on deportation if they attend school or enlist in the military, and issued an executive order on deferred deportation in 2012. He also favors a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, supports the border fence with Mexico, but opposes English as the U.S. national language. Romney opposes the DREAM Act, and says he would veto it if Congress were to pass it. He favors allowing military veterans who are illegal immigrants to become permanent citizens, along with penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegals. He once supported a path to citizenship, but now opposes “amnesty plans,” and favors English as the national language.

Trade: Obama touts his signing of free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia, and he points to his creation of a National Export Initiative, a move he says will double U.S. exports by 2015. Romney favors reinstatement of the President’s Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which allows the White House to negotiate bilateral trade treaties with little interference from Congress, and is pushing completion of the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) which seeks a trade pact with Asian-Pacific nations. Both candidates support strong enforcement of penalties against China in adhering to both World Trade Organization (WTO) and bilateral trade agreements.

Corporate Taxes: The Obama administration favors a reduction in the corporate tax rate to 28%, while Romney believes it should be lowered to 25%. Obama points to his signing of 18 separate tax cuts for small business, his extension of the federal payroll tax cut, and wants to see broad tax reform. Romney wants to make the R & D tax credit permanent, and would create a territorial tax system allowing U.S. companies to bring back overseas profits now exempt from federal tax if kept offshore. He would repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), and would make permanent the Bush tax cuts.

Research: When it comes to technology and innovation, both candidates support federally funded research programs and regulatory decisions based on the best available science, but Romney called out FDA’s “slow and opaque” approval process on new products and technologies, and said he’d like to see cost as a major component of any regulatory decision. Obama pointed to his White House’s “investment in research,” but when it came to FDA he allowed he supports limits to the use of antibiotics on farms.

Grassley Sees Farm Bill Extension, Stabenow Sees Disaster Aid, Lucas Wants Floor Time

Farm Bill veteran Sen. Charles Grassley (R, IA) this week said there’s no way Congress can get a 2012 Farm Bill enacted before the current bill expires at the end of the month, meaning a one-year extension of current programs is the only option left. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D, MI), however, said farmers can expect Congress to act on some kind of disaster/drought assistance package in the absence of a comprehensive Farm Bill, and insiders say that a drought aid package could look a whole lot more like a Farm Bill than a disaster bill. Rep. Frank Lucas (R, OK), chair of the House ag panel, says he believes the August recess gave House members an earful on the need for a Farm Bill, that if leadership allows floor time for “20 or 30 amendments” and an open, straightforward process, the House can complete action on its committee-passed bill before the end of September. Grassley said the farm program extension would be tacked on to the agreed-to six-month continuing resolution to keep the government running, legislation expected to be acted upon in the next week or so. Grassley also agreed with Stabenow on the likelihood of a disaster package passing Congress, but one that looks a whole lot like the bill passed by the House in July. If Congress does not act on the Farm Bill but passes a disaster/drought bill, work will continue on completing the 2012 Farm Bill, sources said, and that bill would likely be taken up during the lame duck session expected after the November 6 election.