John Boehner 8TH DISCTRICT OF OHIO

Congressman Boehner recently headed to Troy for his 21^st Annual Eighth District Farm Forum.  Every year, Boehner invites farmers and ranchers along with agricultural experts and leaders to share ideas and discuss the issues facing the agricultural community.  Learn more about this yearly event by visiting www.JohnBoehner.House.Gov/FarmForum and take a minute to watch some clips from this year’s forum here.

Today, the House will vote on the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act (H.R. 1633), legislation introduced by Reps. Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Robert Hurt (R-VA) that will eliminate the threat of excessive new Washington regulations that could hurt American farmers, ranchers, and small businesses, and cause “significant job losses.”  In The Ag Minute this week, Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) underscored the need to pass H.R. 1633 to give “farmers and ranchers the certainty they need to invest in the future without worrying about oppressive regulations.”  That view is shared by several small business and agricultural organizations that are urging Congress to protect jobs by passing the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act:

• The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) – the nation’s largest small business advocacy group - says the ability of rural small businesses “to survive and stay viable would be further threatened” by overly-stringent regulations, adding that “in these difficult economic times, members of the small business community in rural areas need relief from onerous regulation, not additional costs and mandates. H.R. 1633 would provide this certainty.” (National Federation of Independent Business) 

• The Agriculture Coalition, a group of 126 state and national farmers organizations, urged support for H.R. 1633 to “bring some much needed certainty to agriculture and other rural resource-based industries,” and keep jobs in rural America. (The Agriculture Coalition)

• The American Farm Bureau Federation says farm dust regulations would “result in decreased productivity, increased food prices, and lost jobs in the rural economy.” (American Farm Bureau Federation)

• According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “the economic consequences of [excessive farm dust regulations] can be severe and include higher costs to industry, permitting delays, restrictions on expansion, and an inability to attract new business.” (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)

Earlier this year, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) identified the prospect of overly-stringent farm dust rules as one of the top 10 job-killing regulations facing American job creators.  With the Plan for America’s Job Creators, the Republican-led House has been focused on removing obstacles to private-sector job creation, including the threat of more onerous government regulations coming down the pike.  Upon passage, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act will join more than 25 other bipartisan, House-passed jobs bills that are languishing in the Senate because Democrats in that chamber refuse to act.  The Democrats who run Washington have already broken their promise to keep unemployment below eight percent with the failed ‘stimulus.’  It’s time for them to work with Republicans to find common ground on legislation that will put Americans back to work, starting with the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act and the more than 25 other bipartisan, House-passed jobs bills.  Follow the progress ofH.R. 1633 and other jobs bills awaiting Senate action at jobs.GOP.gov.

In the President’s remarks earlier today on the Miscellaneous Tariffs Bill (which has been re-dubbed “The Manufacturing Enhancement Act” in order to pretend it’s more than a routine reauthorization of … well, miscellaneous tariff provisions) he repeated the pledge he made in his State of the Union address to double American exports in five years. 

But seven months after the President set that goal, the United States' exports are actually losing ground, Reuters reported today:

The U.S. trade deficit surged in June to the highest level since October 2008 and imports of foreign consumer goods hit an all-time high. But U.S. exports faltered, representing a setback for American manufacturers. … U.S. exports slipped 1.3 percent to $150.5 billion. Sales of American farm products, computers and telecommunications equipment all declined.

Why is the President failing to make progress in boosting American exports?  Maybe because he’s not actually doing anything to boost American exports.  If he were serious about reaching his goal, he could ask Democratic Leaders in Congress to pass the Colombian Free Trade Agreement.  Or the Panama Free Trade Agreement.  Or the South Korea Free Trade Agreement (which would boost our exports to the 10th-largest economy in the world).

As President Obama ignores these opportunities, other countries are taking advantage – at America’s expense.  According to “America Falling Behind” – an analysis by Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Republicans – after the European Union approved a trade agreement with South Korea, U.S. meat exports to that country fell by 62 percent.  Dairy exports are down 57 percent.  And since Canada signed a trade deal with Colombia, American wheat exports to that country are down nearly 40 percent.

It’s easy to talk boldly, but to tread boldly and actually boost American exports the President will need to work with both parties to pass trade agreements that will put Americans back to work.  We’re still waiting. 

NOTE:  Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) recently sent a letter to President Obama urging Congress and the Administration to work together to act on several pending trade agreements that promise to create Ohio jobs and boost the economy without adding to our staggering deficit.  The letter, written after recent meetings with constituents who are concerned about the future of Ohio’s paper industry, is available here.

Concerns about costly new taxes, mandates and federal regulations were on the minds of 8th District residents Saturday at the 19th annual 8th District Farm Forum as a capacity crowd gathered at Edison Community College in Piqua to meet with agriculture experts and talk energy, food safety and animal care.

Delivering the keynote address, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03), Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee (OK-03) said that Washington Democrats are ignoring the concerns of today’s farmers as they push a big-government agenda that includes a massive government takeover of health care, a ‘cap and trade’ national energy tax, and out-of-control government spending.

“Farmers today are faced with an alarming attempt at a federal grab of power,” Lucas said.

Following Lucas, Congressman Boehner pledged that Republicans would work to put an end to all the uncertainty surrounding job-killing agenda and continue to offer better solutions – like an ‘all of the above energy strategy’ that would create jobs and ensure the availability of affordable, abundant energy – to the challenges families face every day.

“I’m still here because the fight for a smaller, more accountable and less costly government isn’t over yet,” Boehner said.

 
Congressman John Boehner and Congressman Frank Lucas take questions from 8th District residents at the 19th annual Farm Forum.

Later, in Q&A with local reporters, Boehner and Lucas offered their views on many of the issues and concerns addressed throughout the day.  Below are excerpts:

Washington Democrats’ ‘Cap And Trade’ National Energy Tax Will Devastate The American Farmer, Boehner And Lucas Say

Boehner:  “’Cap and trade’ will regulate everything on the farm; everything from when you can plow and sow to when you can harvest.  And it’s going to raise the prices of energy for every American that drives a car, relies on energy at the workplace, or has the audacity to flip on a light switch.”

Lucas:  “[The agriculture community] is a tremendous consumer of energy.  And yes we are also energy producers.  This bill would give the federal government control over everything we do.  It’s an alarming attempt at a federal grab of power.”

Boehner And Lucas Staunchly Oppose Liberal Special Interest Groups Working To Impose Radical Agenda On Nation’s Livestock Farmers

Boehner:   “Ohio passed a livestock protection board initiative last November, and the state is currently going about setting that up.  I believe it was a responsible way to deal with livestock protection in Ohio.  But radical groups like the Humane Society of the United States continue to get in the way of livestock production, and are looking for new ways to impose their agenda on Americans.”

Lucas:  “We should only be looking at this from a science-based approach.  And it should be a state issue.  I think Ohio has done good work addressing this on the state level.

Boehner And Lucas Say Out-Of-Control Spending, Skyrocketing Debt Will Hurt Agriculture

Boehner:  “It is going to impact every corner of our economy.  At some point you are going to hear higher interest rates, and higher interest rates will slow down economic growth in America.  And when you slow down economic growth, people aren’t going to have as much money in their pockets.  So costs are going to go up and farmers' revenue is going to go down.”

Lucas: “And because agriculture is such a capital intensive industry the way we practice it so efficiently in the United States, we are more sensitive to those costs.”

Failure To Address Death Tax Will Hurt Farmers And Small Businesses, Boehner And Lucas Say

Lucas:  “We cannot let the death tax come back with full force at the end of this year.  If you take into consideration ten years worth of inflation, it will dramatically increase the real impact on farmers and small business people.  At what point will [Washington Democrats] start focusing on these issues? ”

Boehner:  “Given Washington Democrats’ track record dealing with must-do issues, I’m not sure they can get there.  I’ve seen a lot of talk about a solution on the death tax, and yet we’ve not seen any action from the Senate.”

Boehner Says Republicans Must Work With Tea Parties To Build A Better America

“The American people are tired of all the spending and the debt.  I’ve been to my fair share of Tea Parties.  There are some Republicans there, and there are some Democrats there, but 75 percent of the people I’ve seen at these events are normal, everyday Americans who are scared to death that the country they grew up in isn’t going to be the country their kids and grandkids are going to inherit.  And they want something done about it.  I’ve made it clear that I think we should listen to the people involved in the Tea Parties.  We should work with them, and we should walk among them; and I intend to.”

Read More:

• Buckeye Ag Radio: Boehner Hosts Annual Farm Forum
• Greenville Daily Advocate: Boehner Returns For Farm Forum 2010