Agriculture's Politcal Clout
How much clout do our nation’s cattle producers actually have? Enough that some legislators fear they can derail the climate bill? I’m Jeff Keane and I’ll be back after the break to explain. The fact that groups like the American Farm Bureau Federation and The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association oppose the Climate Bill could be the straw that breaks the Climate Bill in the Senate. Here’s Susan Allen to fill us in. Jeff the New York Times recently published an article informing it’s very liberal and urban subscribers what the rest of American already knew, that agriculture has tremendous power in the outcome of legislation. In fact one public policy professor quoted for the Times piece stated that “Agriculture can in effect hold this bill hostage” meaning groups like Farm Bureau and NCBA along with the National Pork Producers and others wield considerable clout in the Senate. The American Farm Bureau fears the climate bill will drive up the cost of fertilizer and fuel and leave our farmers unable to compete against China and India . The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association agrees and that has the wind energy and utilities groups worried about the impact Western States have on energy issues. Susan the final nail in the coffin for the climate bill couild lie with the National Corn Growers Association and the National Association of Wheat Growers who have yet to play their hand. .
