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MEET THE LEGISLATOR – SENATE PRO TEM MIKE SCHULZ
Representing Senate District 38 in southwest Oklahoma, Senate Pro Tem Mike Schulz is a farmer from Altus. He was first elected to the state Senate in 2006. Schulz is an active member of Oklahoma Farm Bureau where he previously served as a field representative. In this week’s Meet the Legislator video, Schulz discusses his priorities for the session.
TOP HEADLINES
Senate to vote on Pruitt Thursday:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filed cloture on Monday night for Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency along with five other Trump nominees, setting up an initial vote for Pruitt on Thursday with Democrats able to drag out debate time and delay a final vote into Friday night [The Hill].
Trump: US, Canada will be ‘tweaking’ NAFTA:
President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged today to improve relations under the North American Free Trade Agreement, but stressed they were mostly satisfied with the status quo [Agri-Pulse].
FEDERAL
Free trade and how the soybean helped make America great again:
In my rural county in northwest Missouri, home to plenty of soybean farmers, Mr. Trump received about 75% of the vote. But as his trade policy comes into focus, it’s starting to scare the heck out of farmers [Wall Street Journal].
Another farm bill – why? (opinion):
Why not just get rid of the ridiculously outdated 1933 “permanent law” and make the 2012 farm bill permanent law? [Agri-Pulse]
Groups urge Sessions to reject ag-chem consolidation:
More than 300 groups are asking newly confirmed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to thoroughly investigate – and then stop – the proposed mergers involving six major ag chemical companies [Agri-Pulse].
STATE
The top 25 services on Gov. Mary Fallin’s proposed list to tax:
If lawmakers approve Gov. Mary Fallin’s proposal to expand Oklahoma’s 4.5-cent sales tax to include 164 services, Oklahoma cities and counties could receive an estimated $769 million jump in revenue. See the top 25 list of services that would bring in the most tax money [Tulsa World].
GRDA once again has Oklahoma lawmakers’ attention:
For the past few months, Dan Sullivan has been making regular trips down the Turner Turnpike from Tulsa to explain the Grand River Dam Authority to state lawmakers and encourage them to leave it alone. He makes a persuasive case for maintaining the status quo [NewsOK].
Cigarette tax increase advanced by House committee, but passage into law not assured:
On Monday, the House Appropriations and Budget Committee voted 17-10 for the measure, with six of eight Democrats and four of 19 Republicans opposed, a breakdown that does not bode well for finding the 76 votes needed for passage on the House floor [Tulsa World].
MISCELLANEOUS
California lawmakers are stuck on Trump, but there’s a problem at home that needs attention: dirty water:
The political power structure doesn’t like to acknowledge above a whisper is that much of this health problem is caused by farmers’ fertilizer and cow manure [Los Angeles Times].
In shadow of California dam, water turns from wish to woe:
It wasn’t so long ago that residents had to drag their houseboats into a dusty field from the barren banks of Lake Oroville, which had almost no water left to keep them afloat. Now after weeks of rain, that dusty field is swelling with water [New York Times].
