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Political Spectrum. Liberal Conservative (more government) (less government). Chapter 3 in text. Politics of the Minority. Find allies issue by issue. Not philosophy by philosophy
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Political Spectrum Liberal Conservative (more government) (less government) Chapter 3 in text
Politics of the Minority • Find allies issue by issue. Not philosophy by philosophy • Build coalitions, compromise, find common ground • Be positive, reasonable, work within system • Base case on facts, not myths or emotions • Adopt non-partisan strategy
Where is The Power in Agricultural and Food Policy? • Agriculture’s iron triangle • Government • Executive Branch • Legislative Branch • Judicial Branch • Other Organizations • General farm organizations • Commodity organizations • Agribusinesses • Public interest groups • Other departments
Agriculture’s Iron Triangle Interest Groups USDA Secretary of Agriculture Legislative Branch Control Agenda and Policy
Executive Branch President Council of Economic Advisors VP CEA Cabinet
Cabinet • Vice President (Joe Biden) • Heads of 15 Executive Departments • Other Cabinet Level positions • CEA (Katharine G. Abraham, Chair) • EPA (Lisa P. Jackson) • OMB (Jacob J. Lew, Director) • National Drug Control Policy • USTR (Ron Kirk) • U.S. Ambassador to U.N. (Susan Rice) • Whitehouse Chief of Staff (William M. Daley)
Executive Departments • Agriculture (USDA) (Tom Vilsack) • Commerce (DOC) • Defense (DOD) • Education • Energy (DOE) • Health & Human Services (HHS) • Homeland Security • Housing & Urban Development (HUD) • Interior (DOI) • Justice (DOJ) • Labor (DOL) • State (DOS) • Transportation (DOT) • Treasury • Veteran Affairs
Secretary Deputy Farm & Foreign Ag Services Food Safety Marketing & Regulatory Programs FSIS FSA FAS RMA AMS APHIS GIPSA Natural Resources & Environment Rural Development Research, Education & Economics Food, Nutrition & Consumer Services FNS CNPP FS NRCS RBS OCD RHS RUS ARS CSREES ERS Structure of USDA Tom Vilsack Administer a lot more than just farm programs Kathleen Merrigan NASS
Legislative Branch • “All Legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” Article I, Section 1 • Membership • House • 435 elected for 2 year terms • Census determines number from each state • Senate • 100 elected for 6 year terms
Functions of Congress • Authorization (legislation/programs) • Appropriation (who gets what?) • Oversight (keep an eye on Executive Branch)
How a Bill Becomes a Law Have to be offered by a member House – bin or hopper, Senate - clerk Constituents Policy Proposals House and/or Senate Congress Executive/Departments Can “table”killing it at once Executive Communication Committee Subcommittee Hearings <> Mark-up cloture - The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule, the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes. Committee Debate <> Approval Senate debate is unlimited may speak at any length on any subject Any senator can stop debate with a Filibuster Floor Debate <> Amend <> Approval Conference Committee Also referred to as the third chamber Conferees work out differences Hammer out differences between House & Senate Majority vote Floor Approval in Both “Enrolled” President Sign <> Veto <> Pocket Veto If signed becomes effective immediately 2/3 vote in both houses can override veto
A Simplified Overview of Budget Authorization and Appropriations Process OMB and Exec. Agencies President's Budget (Late Jan.) Congress Budget Resol. (Apr. 15) Budget Floor Committees Recommendations (March 15) Authorizing Committees Authorizing Bills (May 15) Final Budget Through Conference Committee (Oct 1) Appropriations Adopted Budget Committees & Resolution Subcommittees Appropriations Bills Tax Committees Often have to do a continuing resolution to fund government operations
Action is in Committees(House and Senate) • Overall Congressional Leadership • Senate Majority: Harry Reid (NV) • Minority: Mitch McConnell (KY) • Speaker of the House: John Boehner (OH) Majority: Eric Cantor (VA) Minority: Nancy Pelosi (CA) • Budget Committee (sets limits on spending) • Senate Majority: Kent Conrad (ND) Minority: Jeff Sessions (AL) • House Majority: Paul Ryan (WI) Minority: Chris Van Hollen (MD)
Action is in Committees (cont.) • Agriculture Committee (authorizes ag and nutrition, etc legislation) • Senate Majority: Debbie Stabenow (MI) Minority: Pat Roberts (KS) • House Majority: Frank Lucas (OK) Minority: Collin Peterson (MN) • Agriculture appropriations subcommittee (decides what/who gets money) • Senate Majority: Daniel Inouye (HI) Minority: Thad Cochran (MS) • House Majority: Hal Rogers (KY) Minority: Norman Dicks (WA) • Senate Ag Committee Seniority: • Patrick Leahy (VT) • Tom Harkin (IA) • Kent Conrad (ND) • Max Baucus (MT) • Debbie Stabenow (MI)
Majority is really important • Elects leadership of Congress (control agenda) • Has majority membership of committees and subcommittees • Elects chairs of committees and subcommittees (control agenda) • Has the most staff (bigger offices, etc)
Joe’s Farm Bill Players Secretary of Agriculture Congressional Budget Office House Ag Committee Senate Ag Committee Office of Management & Budget Policy Centers Ag Interest Groups White House Non Ag Interest Groups