Where is Healthcare Reform Now & 2010 Census Coming

Where is Healthcare Reform Now & 2010 Census Coming plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

You’ll soon be asked again to provide some important information. Amanda Horrocks, Extension Agent at Utah University explains the simplicity of the 2010 census.

HORROCKS: It’s a short 10 question form – every household in America will be receiving it. (It’s) required that you fill the form out for everyone living at your address as of April 1, 2010. It includes a prepaid envelop with a form so you can mail it back as soon as possible. It’s something that takes place once every 10 years and so it’s sort of the responsibility of the American people to respond.

It’s not a substitute for broader health care reform but House leaders plan to bring small-scale health care legislation to the floor before the President’s Day recess. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the bigger bill - sidetracked by Republican Scott Brown’s win in Massachusetts - will eventually pass - but said there are some things legislators can do on the side. As for that comprehensive reform measure now stalled - Pelosi says she doesn’t have the votes to pass the Senate bill and get it to the President.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

It certainly appears that the bloom is off the rose.  After last week’s State of the Union Address I’d say the rose is wilting fast. President Obama’s speech met with lukewarm reactions pretty much straight across the board. Those normally against him were even more so, those normally for him appeared to be taking a “step back”, and those riding the fence continue to find themselves doing a balancing act. Most State of the Union speeches try to include “something for everyone”,  this one was no exception, though one had to really be on their toes to catch a mention of certain prime topics. Only one comment halfway through the speech bounced off anything ag related when President Obama stated his administration would be launching a National Export Initiative to help farmers  with the goal to “double our exports over the next five years, an increase that will support two million jobs in America”.  All in all most who heard the speech were not impressed. Perhaps Obamas’ favorite President would tell him, “You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you will never please all of the people all of the time.”

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.