OKAgPolicy Today is a morning email containing the day’s top agriculture and policy headlines. The inclusion of a particular story does not equal an endorsement. Subscribe to the email here.
TOP HEADLINES
House selects leadership for next session:
The House Republican caucus on Tuesday elected its leadership for the 56th Legislature and reaffirmed state Rep. Charles A. McCall, an Atoka banker, as House speaker-elect [The Oklahoman].
Defeat of Oklahoma’s “Right to Farm” bill will have little immediate effect:
Last week, Oklahoma’s controversial “Right to Farm” bill was defeated by voters. The state’s farmers and ranchers are now wondering what the short- and long-term effects of the bill’s rejection will be [HPPR].
The food and agribusiness sector after the US election: What to watch:
Trump’s policies are not clearly defined, but statements made during the campaign suggest they could be very different from current policies. The only certainty in the market at this point is uncertainty [Rabobank].
FEDERAL
GOP votes to keep Ryan as speaker:
Exuberant Republicans on Tuesday rallied behind Paul Ryan, nominating the Wisconsin lawmaker to serve as Speaker of the House for the next two years as they make plans for a unified GOP government in 2017 [The Hill].
Bush-era officials on Trump’s EPA shortlist:
Trump’s EPA administrator will be responsible for the aggressive deregulatory agenda he outlined on the campaign trail. He has pledged to repeal major regulations, including the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, its Waters of the United States rule and big pieces of its climate change agenda [The Hill].
Farm Bureau turns attention to farm bill:
The American Farm Bureau Federation says its members are focusing on the next farm bill. Micheal Clements has more [AFBF].
Why Trump’s position on immigrants could harm farming communities:
Farmers rely heavily on the H-2A Visa program, in which the federal government provides short-term Visas to foreign nationals to help harvest crops within the United States [Market Realist].
EPA reconfigures, reschedules glyphosate panel:
EPA has added epidemiological expertise to a scientific advisory panel (SAP) that will meet next month to consider the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate. The previously postponed meeting is now scheduled to take place Dec. 13-16 in Arlington, Virginia [Agri-Pulse].
STATE
New and re-elected lawmakers take oath of office Wednesday:
New and recently re-elected lawmakers will take the oath of office on Wednesday.House members will be sworn in at 11 a.m., followed by senators at 2:30 p.m. in the Capitol [Tulsa World].
State’s October general revenue 10.8 percent below estimate:
State general revenue receipts continued their downward spiral in October, missing projections by 10.8 percent and coming in 5.8 percent below the same month a year ago [Tulsa World].
State Treasurer talks jobs, Trump and funding government services:
Oklahoma State Treasurer Ken Miller spoke Wednesday to the League of Women Voters, outlining the reasons why Oklahoma is in a recession but saying he’s still bullish on the state in the long term [Tulsa World].
