TOP HEADLINES
Oklahoma AG Scott Pruitt meeting with U.S. Senate confirmation committee members:
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has been meeting with Republican members of a committee that will help determine whether he will head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [The Oklahoman].
Perdue likely pick for agriculture secretary:
The Agriculture secretary sweepstakes got even sunnier for Sonny Perdue on Wednesday, with two sources telling POLITICO that President-elect Donald Trump is poised to nominate the former Georgia governor to lead the USDA [Politico].
TRUMP TRANSITION
American Farm Bureau strongly endorses Pruitt for EPA:
AFBF President Zippy Duvall called Pruitt, Oklahoma’s attorney general, “an ideal nominee” who “has profound respect for the laws written by Congress” [AFBF].
Trade expert says ag should keep an eye on Lighthizer:
President-elect Donald Trump has picked Robert Lighthizer to be the country’s next top trade official, and an industry expert says agriculture should keep a watchful eye on what happens next [Agri-Pulse].
High noon for the environment? Environmentalists vs. Trump:
Environmental groups are on edge. They are wary of what the presidency of Donald Trump will do once it controls the bureaucratic levers of power over the rules and regulations intended to protect the environment [Kansas City Star].
API wants to ‘change the conversation’ under Trump, Pruitt:
American Petroleum Institute CEO Jack Gerard sees 2017 as a big moment in the life of the energy industry, and he hopes he has allies in the incoming administration [Agri-Pulse].
CONGRESS
Republicans aim to gut Endangered Species Act:
Environmentalists fear impact if it’s repealed or replaced [Adventure Journal].
House passes bill to overturn ‘midnight’ regulations en masse:
Legislation to allow Congress to repeal in a single vote any rule finalized in the last 60 legislative days of the Obama administration sailed through the House Wednesday, the second time in less than two months [The Hill].
US Congressman to reintroduce legislation to ease trade restrictions with Cuba:
A US congressman from Arkansas will reintroduce legislation to ease trade restrictions with Cuba, and says he’s hopeful that barriers to agricultural sales will be addressed early in 2017 [Curacao Chronicle].
STATE
New Speaker of the House details session goals:
In his first television interview, Speaker Charles McCall lays out his priorities for the House and how he’s going to tackle them [FOX25].
Tulsa County OSU Extension Service braces for possible budget cuts:
The OSU Extension Service is bracing for possible state budget cuts, and it’s asking for help in deciding what services are most critical as they consider their options [News On 6].
Schools Chief: More at stake for schools than teacher pay:
Superintendent Joy Hofmeister told lawmakers Wednesday that the Department of Education is seeking $2.4 billion in state funds for next fiscal year – a $221 million increase over its current spending level [Oklahoma Watch].
MISCELLANEOUS
Obama administration aids giant California water project:
The outgoing Obama administration on Wednesday tried to nudge forward Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to build two giant north-south water tunnels for California [Washington Post].
