Deporting Criminals & Heavy Truck Fuel Standards

Deporting Criminals & Heavy Truck Fuel Standards plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

The government has issued new fuel efficiency standards for heavy duty trucks and buses which also cover heavy duty pickups that many farmers use. Ron Medford, Deputy Administrator of the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, talks about the new standards for medium duty trucks.

MEDFORD: We estimate that the additional cost is about $1000 and that over the life of that truck consumers or owners are going to save about $7200 in fuel costs so we estimate in 2 years the additional cost is going to be paid back in fuel savings so we think this is a win both for the environment, energy independence and consumers.

Homeland Security is looking to make some changes as to how they handle illegal immigrants. Those illegals who do not have a criminal record would be allowed to stay in the country and apply for a work permit. Any illegal immigrant with a criminal record or pose a threat to national security or public safety would automatically be deported back to their home country. The new proposal is not being met well by Republicans.

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

It appears there’s some confusion over just who is holding up the works when it comes to approving three job creating free trade agreements. Either the President doesn’t know his backside from a hole in the ground, as my Grandfather used to say, or he’s thinking that the rest of us fit that description. Obama continues to point the finger at Congress, blaming them for repeated delays in approving the free trade agreements. On his recent Midwest tour he has been quoted urging Congress to pass the FTA’s saying, “the only thing holding us back is our politics”. Now really Mr. President, I know that you’re gearing up for reelection in 2012 but pretending it’s “the other parties” fault while knowing full well that either side of Congress can’t vote on the FTA’s until your Administration submits them to the House and Senate for a vote that now can’t be done till after they return from the August recess is just sneaky politics. Of course neither the Republicans or the Democrats can be considered guilt free when it comes to the use of sneaky or dirty politics, and we’re surely in for a lot more of it before November 2012 finally rolls around.

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