TOP HEADLINES
AFBF leader ‘optimistic’ for new Congress, Trump administration:
Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said he’s encouraged by the priorities of the president-elect and members of congressional leadership, many of which line up with AFBF’s policy portfolio [Agri-Pulse].
Ready or not, Republicans say Cabinet hearings will begin Tuesday:
Advisers to President-elect Donald J. Trump’s transition team, facing complaints from Democrats that they are trying to jam nominees through confirmation hearings, said on Sunday they were confident all the appointees would be approved by the Senate, perhaps even with Democratic support [New York Times].
CONGRESS
Farm Bureau president to Congress: Slash regulations, reform immigration/ag labor: American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall and thousands of Farm Bureau members today asked Congress to pass sweeping reform of regulations that burden the lives of farmers and ranchers. Their request followed by days the introduction of major legislation to reassert congressional authority over agencies that increasingly ignore the law and basic constitutional limitations on their power [AFBF].
Senate readies for blizzard of confirmation battles: The Senate will begin a blizzard of confirmation hearings Tuesday for Donald Trump’s prospective Cabinet, as Republicans race to get members of the president-elect’s team in place on day one of his administration [The Hill].
TRUMP TRANSITION
EPA nominee to follow Renewable Fuel Standard:
In a meeting with the nominee for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she received assurances that he intends to follow the law of the Renewable Fuel Standard [WHOtv.com].
What Trump can accomplish on day one:
Trump has pledged to take sweeping, unilateral actions on Jan. 20 to roll back President Obama’s policies and set the course for his administration. Many of Obama’s policies he can reverse with the simple stroke of a pen [The Hill].
Toll roads poised to boom under Trump plan:
Toll roads may surge under a $1 trillion infrastructure proposal being floated by Donald Trump [The Hill].
Farm groups stress importance of ag trade with Trump:
In a letter to President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence Jan. 6, a coalition of 16 farmer organizations called on the incoming administration to protect and enhance the positive impact of agricultural trade on jobs and growth in rural America [High Plains Journal].
STATE
Dr. Doug Cox: Don’t sell that golden egg-laying goose:
GRDA is a rare example of government doing things right: self-sufficient and producing huge economic benefits to our schools, our citizens, our communities and our state as a whole [Tulsa World].
Oklahoma Wildlife Department plans to provide more hunting, fishing opportunities through new ‘walk-in’ program:
The Oklahoma Land Access Program, through the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, is a program that pays private landowners to allow public access to their properties for recreational use such as hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing [NewsOK].
Oklahoma to experiment with raising heights of highway bridges:
Oklahoma transportation commissioners started out the new year by voting to try something new. They voted to contract with an engineering firm to design a project to raise the heights of nine county bridges over Interstate 35 to increase the clearances below [The Oklahoman].
