The Changing Congressional Landscape

The Changing Congressional Landscape. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. With political signs blowing through my yard it makes one wonder what another two weeks will bring. Most political pundits seem to agree that we'll see a bunch of new faces in the 112th Congress, but how much will that change the climate on Capitol Hill? MASLYN: It's more likely to be similar to what we have right now than a wholesale change. I don't anticipate that you will see a change in Congress that gives Republican majorities that will allow them to override a presidential veto, for example. I think the outcome will most likely be divided government. American Farm Bureau Director of Public Policy Mark Maslyn says a lot of the issues will look familiar too, though all legislation has to start from scratch. Anything not finished this year, must be reintroduced in 2011. MASLYN: Depending on who is in the majority, they will set the agenda and chair the committees and so forth. Which party is in control of Congress determines which issues advance over others. We think that for example, if the Republicans are in control some of the trade issues that we have been working so hard for that have been stalled will find a more favorable climate to deal with. But there are other issues in which agriculture would benefit if the Democrats were to retain control. Regardless of who has control, the new Congress is expected to start work on the next farm bill. Maslyn says a lot of new faces could make that more challenging. MASLYN: In this election cycle, a disproportionate number of the battleground races are in rural America and that means that there's likely to be some change in the make-up of the agricultural committees in both houses and that's always a challenge for agriculture. When you have new members coming into office there's the process of familiarization, making them understand the importance of agriculture, the role of farm policy programs in agriculture, their importance, how they impact rural America, what the regional and the commodity differences. You tend to lose that historical knowledge that you rely on so much as Congress writes farm bills. Maslyn talks about what this Congress must get done this year. MASLYN: Before we get to the 112th Congress we have to finish this Congress and there's a lot of work to be done yet this year before Congress leaves, issues like taxes, and passing a permanent spending bill for this year are on the agenda for this November and December and must pass. Beyond that my theory has been that lame duck sessions look a lot better in July than they do in November and December and if you see a big change in this election than I don't expect a lot to happen beyond those "must pass" bills. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.