OKAgPolicy Today is a morning email containing the day’s top agriculture and policy headlines. The inclusion of a particular story does not equal an endorsement. Subscribe to the email here.
TOP HEADLINES
President expected to sign historic Oklahoma water rights agreement:
The U.S. Senate gave final passage Saturday to a water projects bill that includes a historic water rights settlement among Oklahoma City, the state of Oklahoma and the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations [The Oklahoman].
Senate OKs spending, water projects bill:
The Senate passed a short-term fiscal 2017 spending bill to avert a government shutdown and then gave final congressional approval to a water projects bill that includes drought relief for California farmers [Agri-Pulse].
STATE
Bill could make GRDA sale possible:
Two lawmakers say they plan to file a bill that would set up a process for the state to sell the Grand River Dam Authority [Journal Record].
Oklahoma may resist federal regulation, but its environmental record isn’t terrible:
The state’s notorious issues with earthquakes caused by the disposal of wastewater from the oil and gas industry — might suggest that Oklahoma would fare particularly poorly on indicators of environmental quality and protection. But the state is solidly middle-of-the-road in many respects, neither the best nor the worst, and even boasts some environmental wins that could come as a surprise [Five Thirty Eight].
Teacher pay plans begin to emerge in Oklahoma Legislature:
Sen. Ron Sharp was the first state lawmaker to file a teacher pay raise bill ahead of the 2017 legislative session. But his bill to raise the state’s minimum pay scale by $5,000 highlights the challenge the Legislature will face in finalizing a pay raise plan [The Oklahoman].
FEDERAL
After years of drama, farmers score a big win in California water battle:
A rough five years in the making, the $558 million bill approved by the Senate early Saturday morning steers more water to farmers, eases dam construction, and funds desalination and recycling projects [Fresno Bee].
WIIN Act a win for agriculture:
The WIIN Act would bring stability back to inland waterways funding and provide drought relief for Western U.S. agriculture. American Farm Bureau Federation director of congressional relations, Andrew Walmsley, says the Act will provide much-needed support for the nation’s inland waterways transportation system [AFBF].
GOP prepares for battle over Dodd-Frank:
With a Republican in the White House and the party in charge of both chambers of Congress for the first time since 2006, they say they have a chance to make important fixes to the law, despite a desire to scrap more of Dodd-Frank [The Hill].
TRUMP TRANSITION
Trump passes over Fallin for Interior secretary, according to reports:
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Fallin stumbled over questions regarding the potential sale of federally owned land [The Oklahoman].
McMorris Rodgers in line for top spot at Interior:
A House Republican leader who represents a wheat-growing district in eastern Washington is expected to be nominated as Interior secretary in the Trump administration [Agri-Pulse].
Donald Trump is choosing his cabinet. Here’s the latest list:
These are Mr. Trump’s selections for his cabinet and other top posts so far [New York Times].
Louisiana Republican wins final unsettled U.S. Senate race:
With the Democrat’s defeat, Republicans will hold a 52-to 48-edge in the Senate when Trump assumes the presidency next month [Washington Post].
MISCELLANEOUS
Wild hogs destroying homeowners’ yards in Fort Bend County:
Homeowners in the Riverstone subdivision near Sugar Land say wild pigs are devouring their lawns and landscaping [KHOU].
