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
In red state Oklahoma, ballot questions cause controversy:
From its state legislature and governor to its congressional delegation, Oklahoma is a solidly Republican state. So while polls and political analysts predict a Trump victory, several key ballot questions are causing a stir. One of them, called “Right to Farm,” limits government restrictions on farming [NPR].
SQ 777 Rotary debate:
“In case anybody didn’t know, the client that Mr. Biggs keeps referring to is the Humane Society of the United States, who I have represented and continue to represent. I think they’re a fine organization and do great work,” Edmondson said, turning to Biggs [NonDoc].
FEDERAL
No simple solutions: Paying for infrastructure to move the nation’s cargo (opinion):
The next time you bite into a piece of fruit, grill a steak, or spoon into a carton of yogurt, consider how the item got from the farm to your home – and who paid for the trip. Let’s take a broad look at how the country finances the highways, runways, railroads, ports and river navigation structures, and who pays for the trucks, rail cars, ships and barges that move the nation’s cargo [Agri-Pulse].
International trade is a win-win (opinion):
Unless we improve economic literacy, demagogues from both major political parties will continue to pander to people’s prejudices. Economists need to help break this vicious cycle by better communicating to the public that international trade is a win-win scenario [The Oklahoman].
Vilsack announces more help for rural America:
Vilsack today announced $24.4 million in new grants and loans to bolster business and job growth in rural America, where an estimated 6 million people still live in poverty, including about 1.5 million children [Agri-Pulse].
ELECTIONS
Why Trump and Clinton fail on trade, tariffs, and the economy:
At present, there is much confusion surrounding the subject of trade and competition, and the most discussed international trade agreements illustrate this fact. That President Obama and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D, MA) can disagree so strongly about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) demonstrates that the politics and principles related to international trade are not neatly defined or clearly understood [Forbes].
Will expected voter turnout here be seen across U.S.?:
Across the country, experts studying the race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump aren’t quite sure what to expect. The question is whether the candidates’ polarizing personalities and their record-high negative ratings will prompt voters to simply stay home, or whether instead voters will go to the polls in large numbers to ensure that the other person doesn’t win [The Oklahoman].
MISCELLANEOUS
Standing up for America’s farm and ranch families:
While we will never be able to match the big money that the professional critics and special interest groups in Washington spend to disparage rural America and American agriculture to advance their own agendas, we will continue to fight for and stand with America’s farm and ranch families because we know the value of a secure and affordable national food and fiber supply [Farm Policy Facts].
