Republicans

The state of Washington is in the early phases of the redistricting process, determining how state and congressional districts will be altered following the 2020 census. Washington senate minority leader John Braun said while many see redistricting as an issue for the more populated parts of the state, he said it’s important that the rural community is involved when districts are modified. He .

A recent survey by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers shows the industry wants the next President to prioritize infrastructure investment. Regardless of who the next President is and which party controls the House or Senate, AEM says the outcome of the 2020 elections will have a significant impact on the equipment industry and the economy ...

The House of Representatives passed a $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package that Democrats say is an update to the previous $3.4 billion bill that passed in May. The vote was 214 to 207, with 18 Democrats joining all the Republicans who voted against it ...

Pandemic aid for farmers and others hangs in the balance as Democrats and Republicans in Washington D.C. continue to blame each other for the lack of progress in talks on a major new virus relief package. The nation faces what many have called, an economic cliff, while lawmakers face a political one. T ...

Just over half the nation’s governors co-signed a letter to Congress asking for rapid ratification of USMCA.  The Thursday said, in part, “Nearly 25 years after passing the North American Free Trade Agreement, it’s time to update our trade policies with two of our most critical trading partners.”   The governor...

Key Democrats in the House are already lining up in opposition to the House version of the 2018 Farm Bill because of proposed changes to SNAP.  TheHill.com says the bill is now facing attacks from conservative groups.  Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Partners, two groups that are associated with billionaire conservative donors Charles and David Koch, sent a joint letter to Congress in opposit

House Republicans are speeding up efforts to pass tax reform, a key for agriculture, but an American Farm Bureau official says, for procedural reasons, health care reform will come first in the Senate.  AFBF Tax Adviser Pat Wolff said after the House passed its healthcare reform bill as part of a budget adjustment process that will require only a simple majority for the Senate to pass its version.

The Republican Party platform is now endorsing a policy on international trade that more closely resembles comments made by their presidential nominee, Donald Trump, than what platforms have said in the past.   Pro Farmer’s First Thing Today reports the new platform calls for “agreements that put America first.”   It also say...

The 2016 Republican Platform is calling on Congress to separate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from the Farm Bill.   The Hagstrom Report said that’s a popular position with House conservatives, but groups like the American Farm Bureau say that would make it impossible for Congress to pass a Farm Bill.  The Farm...