TOP HEADLINES
Trump sows dismay in rural America with late agriculture choice:
Some folks in American farm country are wondering why they aren’t getting more love from Donald Trump [Bloomberg].
Pruitt understands RFS importance to rural America:
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, apparently satisfied two United States senators from Iowa that not only would his agency cut back federal regulation harming the countryside, but would in fact follow the Renewable Fuel Standard [DTN/Progressive Farmer].
TRUMP TRANSITION
Trump’s Cabinet picks: A rundown of upcoming hearings:
January is poised to be a volatile month that’s jam-packed with Senate committee hearings to approve President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks. Here is a look at the nominees and their upcoming hearing schedules [Politico].
Still no agriculture secretary as 115th Congress kicks off:
Lawmakers returned to Washington this week, but the expected announcement of the next agriculture secretary is still to come. Agri-Pulse’s Phil Brasher and Spencer Chase have more [Agri-Pulse].
Trump adviser Rastetter wants mega-mergers, like DuPont Dow, blocked:
Bruce Rastetter, an Iowa entrepreneur and ag adviser to Donald Trump, wants the president-elect to block pending mega-mergers like the $130 billion marriage between DuPont, parent of Iowa-based Pioneer, and Dow Chemical Co [Des Moines Register].
STATE
Oklahoma Transportation Department presents budget needs:
Lawmakers in the Oklahoma House of Representatives sat through a second day Thursday of in-depth budget hearings that give agency heads a chance to ask for more money [The Oklahoman].
Oklahoma House takes a deep dive into department budgets:
This year, the entire Oklahoma House of Representatives is taking on the budget in a new way. For the first six days of the session, the five largest state departments will present their budget proposals to the entire House [Norman Transcript].
Why Oklahoma and other red states might pump gasoline taxes to fill budget holes:
Legislators are considering tax increases to help fund state government, and one idea is gaining traction: Hiking taxes on gasoline and diesel [StateImpact Oklahoma].
Education bills emerge: Teacher pay, history exams, 4-day weeks:
Lawmakers will take another stab at increasing teacher salaries, will attempt to stymie four-day school weeks and try to eliminate the end-of-year exam in U.S. history [Oklahoma Watch].
Oklahomans to receive new license plates:
Oklahoma drivers are now required to renew their vehicle license plates this year at their local tag office [Miami News Record].
$2.6 million paid by farmers and ranchers missing from Oklahoma Beef Council:
A federal investigation has been launched into the alleged embezzlement of $2.6 million by an employee of an obscure state board that promotes the beef industry, money created by a mandatory government program funded by farmers and ranchers [StateImpact Oklahoma].
