Agricultural News
National Cattlemen's Beef Association Top Lobbyist Visits with OK Cattlemen's Association Members
Mon, 24 Jul 2017 14:56:54 CDT
The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association hosted Colin Woodall, vice president of government affairs at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, as keynote speaker during the 65th Annual OCA State Convention and Trade Show General Session. Woodall gave a thorough update on the policy NCBA is currently advocating in Washington, D.C. Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Associate Farm Director Carson Horn was there to speak with Woodall on some of the dynamics present in D.C.'s political scene and how this is affecting the advancement of the NCBA's agenda to promote the interest of the US cattle industry. You can hear their entire conversation by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below at the bottom of the page.
Overall, Woodall says the attitude of the Trump administration and Congress has been very cooperative with the agricultural community, as eager as those affected to relieve farmers and ranchers of some of the over burdensome rules and regulations imposed by previous administrations. He says most of the people President Trump has put in leadership roles are not the typical career politicians, but rather come from a background in the business sector.
"When you have a business background you definitely understand what it means to comply with rules and regulations and how it has a negative impact on your bottom line," Woodall said. "They recognize what we do to feed not only ourselves here in the US, but around the world. So, that mentality, I believe, has given them some good perspective in looking at these rules and trying to figure out which ones need to be eliminated."
While working with people whose concern is actually making government work for the people, not the other way around, is refreshing says Woodall, time is of the essence and NCBA is trying to work with leaders in government to get as much done legislatively as possible before the 2018 Midterm election. This election will be pivotal for the future of the Trump administration, insists Woodall.
"If the Democrats take back the House or the Senate, or both, then in effect, that stops (the President's) ability to do any more legislative work," he explained, but tried to reassure. "I do believe that the House has a fair chance of keeping the Republican majority."
The Senate, though, is much more worrisome, with only a two-seat margin between the Republicans maintaining or losing control.
"Those two seats could very easily go away," Woodall said coldly. "A lot of it depends on whether or not they can show the American people they have been successful over the past year. If they can do that, then I think their chances definitely improve, but they're going to have to fight for it and earn it."
Knowing that, Woodall says NCBA is doing everything it can to be helpful to Congress in getting priorities passed so incumbents up for re-election will be able to focus on securing the votes they need to keep their seats.
"For us, that means trying to get comprehensive tax reform in place, trying to help get a Farm Bill completed and to make sure that we don't leave anything to chance in case there is a change in control after November 2018," Woodall asserted.
To hear Woodall speak on NCBA's priorities for the Farm Bill, his thoughts on trade and a recap of NCBA's recent Summer Business Conference in Denver, click or tap below on the LISTEN BAR to hear his full interview with Associate Farm Director Carson Horn.
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