11/14/06 Congress, what`s next?

The voters spoke and there are changes ahead for the House and Senate. Congress is back at work for the lame duck session while the new Democratic leadership prepares for January. USDA Chief Economist Keith Collins says it's too early to tell if there will be any bold changes in direction for agriculture. COLLINS "I think the main thing that it means is that we'll see a lot of staff changes on the Hill; we'll see a lot of new committee assignments, a lot of people with different views about the role of agriculture in our overall economy. So it means a period of new relationship building. Collins says it will be early next year before we see the relationships between the individuals in the House and Senate, between the Congress, USDA and various constituent groups. He's been through these changes before and says history shows that Republicans and Democrats often agree on agriculture policy issues. COLLINS "We believe that farm policy turns out to be a regional issue. We have interests that look at Southern agriculture, interest that look at Midwest agriculture, interests that look at specialty agriculture and regardless of whether they are Democrat or Republican they tend to support those sectors of the farm economy." The biggest agriculture issue facing the new Congress is the 2007 Farm Bill. Some want to extend the 2002 legislation while others say a new bill is needed. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott