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Top Headlines
Right to Farm question means heated debate for many:
During drop off day at the Oklahoma Food Cooperative, small time Norman farmer Dustin Green is ready to get his produce from farm to table. “This is a logistical nightmare that works every time,” Green said as he packed large leaf lettuce into coolers before they were shipped to customers that afternoon. But Wednesday there’s something else on his mind come November voters could drastically change the way he works. [News9]
Oklahoma House passes $200 million transportation bond issue:
Despite some passionate objections, the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to approve a $200 million transportation bond issue to help fill part of a $1.3 billion budget hole. [NewsOK]
Senate passes budget bill despite concerns over bond funding, cuts to higher ed:
Amid much finger-pointing and lengthy debate, the Senate on Wednesday passed a budget bill.The general appropriations measure, Senate Bill 1616, now moves to the Oklahoma House for consideration. [Tulsa World]
Missed opportunities in Oklahoma state budget:
Given that Oklahoma lawmakers faced a $1.3 billion shortfall this year, any budget agreement was sure to involve some tough choices. The agreement announced this week certainly did. [NewsOK]
Farm Bureau details tax reform priorities for Senate Finance Committee:
Farmers and ranchers need a tax code that recognizes the many financial challenges they face, the American Farm Bureau Federation recently told the Senate Finance Committee in a statement submitted for the record. [FBNews]
Committee approves Water Resources Development Act:
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today unanimously approved H.R. 5303, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, bipartisan legislation to address the needs of America’s harbors, locks, dams, flood protection, and other water resources infrastructure and help strengthen the Nation’s economic competitiveness. [House T&I Committee]
‘Use-by’ labels contribute to food waste, House Ag panel told:
Witnesses told the House Agriculture Committee today that “sell-by” and “use-by” labels on food products need to be standardized to help consumers make better choices and to help reduce food waste in the richest country in the world. [Agri-Pulse]
GMO ban headed to voters in Sonoma County:
Sonoma County supervisors Tuesday advanced a highly disputed initiative to ban genetically modified crops and seeds in Sonoma County, while also voicing strong opposition to the proposed ordinance submitted by a group of citizens concerned about the spread of GMOs. [The Press Democrat]
