“EPA Moves to Control Green House Gases”
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has laid out the timetable for regulating greenhouse gas emissions. Writing in a letter to lawmakers, Jackson said she plans to start targeting large facilities such as power plants next year but won’t target small emitters before 2016. Jackson pledged that any regulation of such gases would be phased in gradually and would not impose expensive new rules on most American businesses.
The letter makes it clear the Obama administration will move ahead, as it is required by the Clean Air Act, unless Congress moves to stop it. In the letter Jackson said – I share your goals of ensuring economic recovery at this critical time and of addressing greenhouse-gas emissions in sensible ways that are consistent with the call for comprehensive energy and climate legislation.
Jackson also wrote that an effort by Senator Lisa Murkowski to block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases would undo a deal struck last year between the auto industry, the administration and several states to limit greenhouse gases from cars and light trucks.
*******************************************************************
“Senate Could Vote on Jobs Bill This Week”
With help from the GOP, the U.S. Senate is poised to vote on a jobs-creation bill. The 15-billion dollar measure could come to the Senate floor for a vote later this week. Five Republicans and 57 Democrats voted to break a filibuster of the jobs bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said – I hope this is the beginning of a new day in the Senate. Republican Senators Christopher Bond, Scott Brown, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and George Voinovich voted to move the measure. Democrat Ben Nelson voted against the move.
Reid lost the public support of several Republicans after discarding the 85-billion dollar jobs package negotiated by Senators Max Baucus and Charles Grassley in favor of a narrower bill favored by liberals. The bill does not contain an extension of the 31-billion dollar package of extensions of expiring tax breaks, including the biodiesel tax incentive eagerly sought by Senate Republicans.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel complained that Republicans were not allowed to offer amendments to the latest jobs bill, even though they also have proposals. McConnel says, – those ideas should be considered.
*******************************************************************
“Reactions to Health Care Reform Mixed”
House Minority Leader John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel agree Democrats should drop their current health care legislation and start over. Boehner says – the American people want to scrap this big government takeover and start over. Both leaders and House GOP Whip Eric Cantor say they will attend the White House summit called by President Obama for tomorrow (Thursday).
So, why is Boehner going if he objects so strongly to the Obama health care proposal? Boehner said it’s a matter of common courtesy. It’s an invitation from the President of the United States. I believe when you get an invitation from the President you have an obligation to go.
In remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday morning, McConnel said, – the American people thought the debate on this approach to reform was over. But, here we are being told by the White House we have to consider the same health care bills that caused such a backlash across the country in December.
*******************************************************************
“Groups Defend Drug Use in Food Animals”
Livestock and poultry groups hosted educational briefings on Capitol Hill Tuesday to share the facts about the importance of tools like antibiotics in raising healthy food animals. Top livestock and poultry health experts from across the country presented information to attendees. The event was sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, National Pork Producers Council, National Milk Producers Federation, National Turkey Federation, American Meat Institute and National Meat Association.
Dr. Guy Loneragan, an epidemiologist at West Texas A&M University, told those gathered that maintaining access to FDA-approved safe and effective technologies, including animal health products, helps ensure both the health and resource efficiency of U.S. herds and flocks.
According to Dr. Leon Weaver, a veterinarian and dairy farmer from Montpelier, Ohio, – the U.S. dairy industry conducts more than 3.3 million tests each year on all milk entering dairy plants. So far, only less than one tanker in 38-hundred tests was positive for any animal drug residues, including antibiotics.
*******************************************************************
“Indiana Moves on Livestock Care”
Indiana could have livestock care oversight in place by mid March after the Indiana State Senate passed H.B. 1099 by a vote of 50-0. The bill earlier passed the House by a 94-0 count. It now goes to Governor Mitch Daniels for his signature. The bill gives ultimate power in deciding standards for livestock and poultry care to the already existing Board of Animal Health.
According to Indiana State Representative Terry Goodin, members of the Board of Animal Health have experience, schooling and training to be able to make the decisions as to what is appropriate in animal care. Goodin said Indiana learned from Ohio and that is why the state decided to legislate the Livestock Care Commission Board so opponents can’t come back.
The bill’s language calls on the board to consider the following: The health and husbandry of the livestock and poultry. Generally accepted farm management practices. Generally accepted veterinary standards and practices. And the economic impact the standards may have on: livestock and poultry farmers; and the affected livestock and poultry sector and consumers.
*******************************************************************
“Great Lakes Protection Established”
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson has released an action plan to guide the Obama Administration’s historic efforts to restore the Great Lakes. The plan lays out the most urgent threats facing the Great Lakes and sets out goals, objectives and key actions over the next five years to help restore the lakes. The plan was developed by 16 federal agencies as part of the federal inter-agency task force chaired by Administrator Jackson.
The action plan contains five priority – focus areas. Protection and cleanup of the most polluted areas in the lakes. Combating invasive species. Protection of high priority watersheds and reduced runoff from urban, suburban and, agricultural sources. Restoration of wetlands and other habitats. And implementation of accountability measures, learning initiatives, outreach and strategic partnerships.
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, co-chair of the Council of Great Lakes of Governors, says his state is – defined by the Great lakes, and one of our greatest responsibilities is to preserve this important freshwater resource for future generations. Some 30-million Americans get their drinking water from the Great Lakes, and the lakes also support a multi-billion dollar economy based on fishing, boating and recreational activities.
*******************************************************************
“Cuban Trade Bill Introduced”
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson has introduced legislation to expand U.S. agriculture exports to Cuba. H.R. 4645, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act, is co-sponsored by 30 other Members of Congress. If made into law, the act would eliminate the need to go through banks in other countries to conduct agricultural trades. The bill would also require agricultural exports to Cuba to meet the same payment requirements as exports to other countries. Presently, payment in advance is required.
Peterson says, – U.S. producers are the closest suppliers that can help meet the food and agriculture needs of the Cuban people. Opportunities to sell to paying customers in Cuba have been hindered by bureaucratic red tape and by arbitrary prohibitions on the ability of U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba. Peterson believes – this bill cuts the red tape and allows that trade and travel to happen.
The National Farmers Union supports the bill. NFU President Roger Johnson says – even though U.S. firms offer reliable trading partners, quality products and competitive prices, current U.S. policy hampers their ability to supply the Cuban market. Johnson says – if the United States is not the supplier, the European Union or Brazil will be happy to take our place.
*******************************************************************
“Barley Protein Meal Supply Chain Established”
Osage Bio Energy of Glen Allen, Virginia, has signed a contract with Land O’Lakes Purina Feed to market its barley protein meal, a co-product of its ethanol bio-processing operation. Osage Bio Energy’s first plant, Appomattox Bio Energy, located in Hopewell, Virginia, is currently under construction and scheduled to come online in late spring 2010. The plant will become the first commercial scale barley-to-ethanol processing plant in the United States, producing up to 250-thousand tons of barley protein meal annually.
Osage Bio Energy’s plant will utilize a specialized milling technique that removes the hulls from the barley — thus reducing the fiber and concentrating the protein and starch. The hulls will be pelletized on-site and sold as a renewable fuel source. The plant will convert waxy beta-glucans in the barley into ethanol, preventing them from becoming part of the BPM.
BPM features a low fat profile and high protein and lysine content relative to other grain-based feeds. Additionally, because the product is derived from barley that has not been genetically modified, it represents a new source of non-GMO animal feed for global customers.
*******************************************************************
“HSUS, Others Sued Under RICO Act”
Feld Entertainment and the Ringling Brothers Circus are suing the Humane Society of the United States, its lawyers, and several other animal rights groups, under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. In a lawsuit filed on February 16th, Feld leveled bribery, fraud, obstruction of justice, and money laundering charges against HSUS and others.
David Martosko, Director of Research for the Center for Consumer Freedom, says – America’s farmers, ranchers, hunters, fishermen, research scientists, fashion designers, and restaurateurs have seen for decades how the animal rights movement can behave like a mobbed-up racket. After reviewing all of the evidence, Martosko says – a jury could actually do the humane thing and finally put HSUS out of business completely.
Earlier a Federal Judge ruled that these defendants collaborated to pay more than 190-thousan dollars to a former Feld employee who was an elephant “barn helper” for two years in the late 1990s, in exchange for his testimony against Feld. The testimony was declared – not credible – and was disregarded in its entirety. That lawsuit was dismissed.
