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
Heitkamp tops Trump’s list for agriculture secretary:
The first-term Democrat from North Dakota and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee has been a vocal advocate for farmers and broke from her party on several controversial policy issues, including the labeling of genetically modified foods and environmental protection for wetlands and waterways [Politico].
FEDERAL
Washington Week in Review: CR, WRDA and an EPA administrator:
The 114th Congress came to a close in Washington, and Donald Trump announced his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Agri-Pulse’s Phil Brasher and Spencer Chase have more [Agri-Pulse].
A problem ‘too big to ignore’ – how years of congressional wrangling led to a water compromise:
It took years of negotiations, and the right political timing, to bring the first major water policy affecting California in decades through the House and Senate [Los Angeles Times].
Paving the way for regulatory reform in 2017:
While most attention these days is focused on the incoming Trump administration, don’t expect members of the 115th Congress to be bystanders once they are sworn in on Jan. 3, 2017. We expect major legislation designed to curb overreaching regulations like the Waters of the United States rule will be near the top of the agenda [AFBF].
TRUMP TRANSITION
Trump’s rural advisers push back on Heitkamp for Ag secretary:
Some of President-elect Donald Trump’s closest rural advisers are trying to torpedo efforts to make Sen. Heidi Heitkamp the next Agriculture secretary, telling the president-elect they feel betrayed at the thought of a Democrat getting the position over a deep bench of Republicans who campaigned for him [Politico].
Mike Turpen: Scott Pruitt is a good choice for EPA chief:
Pruitt’s background in constitutional law combined with a nuanced understanding of how environmental regulations affect the economy mean that he will be a thoughtful leader of the EPA and one capable of striking the balance between protecting the environment and our economy [Tulsa World].
Pruitt will do ‘great job’ as new EPA chief if confirmed:
Former U.S. Sen. Don Nickles said Monday that he thinks Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt will do a “great job” as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but predicted his confirmation will be not be an “easy process” [Tulsa World].
Trump taps Tillerson for secretary of state:
President-Elect Donald Trump officially picked ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as his choice to be secretary of state on Tuesday morning, setting up a contentious confirmation battle over the nation’s top diplomat [Politico].
STATE
Oklahoma lawmakers consider selling power plants to fill budget hole:
One emerging idea that could put an extra billion dollars in state coffers: Selling the Grand River Dam Authority [StateImpact Oklahoma].
McCall announces committee chair, vice chair appointments:
House Speaker-designate Charles A. McCall today announced the chairs and vice chairs for the standing House committees and appropriation subcommittees of the 56th Oklahoma Legislature [The Okie].
By one measure, Oklahoma GOP less conservative than advertised:
Oklahoma is often proclaimed among the “reddest of the red states” because of its high level of voter support for Republican presidential candidates. Yet that status doesn’t necessarily translate into support for conservative policy among members of the Legislature, as highlighted by a recent report from the American Conservative Union Foundation [The Oklahoman].
MISCELLANEOUS
Mapping three decades of global water change:
Rivers meander. Lakes grow and shrink. Engineers build dams and farmers flood fields. Scientists have used millions of satellite images to illustrate how rivers, lakes and other bodies of water have changed over three decades [New York Times].
