Farm-state Republicans in the U.S. House, including Northwest Missouri's Sam Graves, want to apply the brakes to congressional consideration of climate change and energy legislation.
All GOP members of the House Agriculture Committee signed a letter Tuesday asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi to delay the chamber's debate on the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The Republicans want more time to hold hearings on the impact of the measure.
Ms. Pelosi, a California Democrat, set Friday as the date for completion of committee work.
The Agriculture Committee held a hearing last week that focused on the rural impact of energy legislation. "The Committee took testimony from eight witnesses, covering a wide variety of rural interests," the letter to Ms. Pelosi reads. "All witnesses said they could not support the bill. Beyond these witnesses, 99 agriculture organizations have already publicly expressed opposition to the bill and more are added to the list each day."
Other of the region's congressmen sit on the committee and signed the letter, including Reps. Steve King of Southwest Iowa and Jeff Fortenberry of Southeast Nebraska. Another panel member, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, who represents a central and northerneastern Missouri district, also signed.
Mr. Graves has been wary of the so-called Waxman-Markey Bill, speaking out against it in his role as the top Republican on the Small Business Committee.
""A bill that has been projected to decrease farmers' average net income by 57 percent is a bad bill," he said, taking aim at Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman, also a Californian. "Chairman Waxman and Speaker Pelosi are not considering what is best for all Americans. Their Hollywood and San Francisco constituents will not face the hardships this bill will bring to farmers."
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Orliandor says...
I think 57% is probably an exaggeration. And don't even get me started on his unnatural phobia of folks from California.
June 18, 2009 at 7:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rk92559 says...
Really?? The same California that can't pay workers or send out tax refunds because they are flat broke?? The same California paying octo mom to have a litter and get plastic surgery?? That California phobia?? People on the the East coast and the west coast think food just comes from the grocery store. They haven't ever walked in a cornfield, and they need to be making bills that have major impacts on farmers?
June 18, 2009 at 11:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BCotter says...
To heck with the farmers! We don't need their food - we'll just get it from the supermarket!
(at least that's what Congress seems like to me lately)
June 18, 2009 at 11:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goobentrot says...
I spent a few weeks in California near San Franisco many years back when I was in the military. I did't care for the life style or most of the people. I guess I'm just an old country hayseed like Sam Graves. It's not a phobia just a different life style.
June 18, 2009 at 12:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joetowner says...
It's not just farmers, this legislation is going to effect everything and everybody. Manufacturing will be driven overseas, and your taxes will go up. This has been acknowledged by the President. It's just a terrible idea and I hope like heck we have enough sensible Members in Congress to try and curtail some of this ill-conceived legislation.
June 18, 2009 at 1:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Orliandor says...
rk, I'm not thinking about tax refunds or family planning. Sam knows the phobia I'm talking about.
June 18, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goobentrot says...
Orliander I doubt that Sam graves reads your post,however if you are talking about sexual orientation you are about 180 degrees off of the debate about energy bills impact on the midwest.
June 18, 2009 at 8:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
longarm45 says...
what will this bill do?
Newspress-get off your butt & analyze the bill, don't just give us Graves interpretations!
You are failing us as an information organization!!!
June 25, 2009 at 7:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )