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TOP HEADLINES
Farm Bureau supports death tax repeal measure:
Passing a family farm on to the next generation may become less challenging, thanks to the reintroduction of legislation to repeal the federal estate tax, also known as the “death tax”. Cosponsored by Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe, the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2017 was introduced on Tuesday in both the U.S. House and Senate [OKAgPolicy].
Trump’s clamp-down on illegal immigrants causes concern for farm groups:
That’s because much of the labor force that picks the fruits, vegetables and other crops in the U.S. are undocumented and in danger of being deported. Farm groups have lobbied Congress for years to reform U.S. immigration policy by creating new legal paths for farmers to hire foreigners, but it hasn’t happened yet [Agri-Pulse].
CONGRESS
Estate tax repeal bills introduced:
A pair of South Dakota Republicans and a Georgia Democrat are giving new life to a longstanding effort to reshape the tax code [Agri-Pulse].
GOP chairman unsure how infrastructure fits into 200-day agenda:
Massive infrastructure spending — long panned by fiscal conservatives — is competing for attention with other GOP priorities such as tax reform, repealing ObamaCare and securing the border [The Hill].
WHITE HOUSE
Trump’s First 100 Days: Get ready for major action on immigration:
It’s a busy week, so here’s what has happened and what to expect [Washington Post].
Will Trump go after NAFTA with tweezers or a hammer?:
Trade experts say a renegotiation could well lead to a better deal for all three countries. But it will require the United States to make concessions that the Trump administration may be wary of offering [New York Times].
EPA science under scrutiny by Trump political staff:
The Trump administration is scrutinizing studies and data published by scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, while new work is under a “temporary hold” before it can be released [AP].
STATE
Students in small schools thrive despite talks of consolidation:
Located in Norman, Robin Hill district covers 18 square miles. The district educates youths in prekindergarten through eighth grades and is one of 96 small elementary-only districts across Oklahoma. Those districts, also called dependent or K-8 districts, often go unnoticed by the public except for the four months of Oklahoma’s legislative session [Oklahoma Gazette].
Plains and Eastern Clean Line transmission project in Oklahoma on Trump infrastructure list:
The 720-mile long Plains and Eastern Clean Line transmission project from the Oklahoma Panhandle to Tennessee is among a list of 50 priority infrastructure projects compiled by the Trump administration and the only one with a foothold in Oklahoma [The Oklahoma].
