June 29, 2012 NATIONAL NEWS Highway bill set to move forward under a pile of amendments Surface transportation conference committee has reached a deal on a 27-month bill that would fund highway projects at nearly current levels until Sept. 30, 2014. Since H.R. 4348 is the vehicle that is moving in Congress right now, all kinds of amendments are finding a home with the bill. H.R. 4348 includes reauthorization of surface transportation programs, an extension of reduced student loan rates, and a reauthorization of the flood insurance program. The flood-insurance program will include reform at the urging of Sen. Mark Pryor. Pryor’s measure will strike language directing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to require that floodinsurance policies cover residual risk behind dams and levees. The bill would phase in market-based premium rates over five years, phase out certain subsidies, and reauthorize the program for five years. The bill does not include expedited approval of the Keystone XL pipeline or a provision relating to coal ash, but it does consolidate transportation programs, speed up the environmental and regulatory reviews of projects and give states more leeway in spending funds set aside for “enhancements,” such as highway beautification or bicycle paths. The conference report also included the Senate language that extends by one year, through fiscal year 2012, the Secure Rural Schools program. The program funds county outlays for public schools, road improvement and maintenance projects, and forest restoration and improvement projects in and around national forests. The bill also includes several exemptions for farm vehicles. Included in the conference report are exemptions for farmers and ranchers and covered farm vehicles from several federal regulations. The language exempts a covered farm vehicle, including the individual operating that vehicle, from requirements to obtain a commercial driver’s license, medical certificates, hours of service restrictions and any requirement relating to vehicle inspection, repair and maintenance. These exemptions apply for any properly marked farm vehicle that weighs less than 26,001 pounds, and also for farm vehicles that weigh more than 26,001 pounds and are traveling within the state or within 150 air miles of their farm if that vehicle were to cross a state line.
Superfund bill will get committee hearing On Wednesday, July 27, the House Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy will hold a hearing on H.R. 2997, the Superfund Common Sense Act. Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) introduced the legislation last fall to clarify that animal manure shall not be included in the meaning of “hazardous substance” or “pollutant or contaminant” under the Comprehensive Environmental Recovery, Compensation & Liability Act (CERCLA) or impose any liability under the Environmental Protection & Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). CERCLA and EPCRA are commonly referred to as Superfund. The bill currently has 113 co-sponsors.
STATE NEWS Butch Calhoun to take the helm of the Arkansas Agriculture Department The Arkansas Agriculture Board approved the Governor’s recommendation of Butch Calhoun as the next head of the Arkansas Agriculture Department. The board voted on June 27 that Calhoun will replace current Secretary Dick Bell upon his retirement effective June 30. Calhoun is currently the head of the Department of Rural Services, a post he has held since 2007. He has vast government
and farm related experience. Calhoun has been involved with the family farming operation for 30 plus years. He served five terms as the Prairie County Judge and eight years in the Arkansas House of Representatives. The Arkansas Agriculture Department oversees the State Plant Board, the Forestry Commission, the Livestock and Poultry Commission, the Aquaculture Division and the land surveyors. The department also has charge over the dairy stabilization program, the bio-fuels grant program and other marketing programs.
Ruling for on Illinois River still pending The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette had an article in last Sunday’s paper about the pending court case addressing the Illinois River watershed. Basically the news is that there is no news. The case is still under the consideration of Judge David Frizzell who has a mountain of evidence to sort through and an increased caseload. It has been two years since the case was heard in court. This length of time is extraordinary based the typical case heard by a federal court. The case was originally filed in September of 2005. The poultry companies seem in no hurry to get a ruling and the judge has not given any indication of a timeline. An appeal of any verdict is almost certain. Since the initial court filing, inhabitants of the watershed have taken several measures to clean the waterway. Agriculture producers from across the country have been tracking the case with interest, knowing the outcome could set important precedent for water law.
Election Directory Revised Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Election Directory has been updated following the primary runoffs. The directory now includes the party’s official nominees for the General Election. The directory also includes independent candidates and candidates from the Green and Libertarian parties. Access the directory at this link http://issuu.com/arfb/docs/electiondirectory12/31.
Online State Checkbook Debuts Monday The public will have its first look next Monday at the state’s new online checkbook being developed as required by Act 303 of 2011 (SB 221) to provide online access to information on expenditures of the state government. The site will eventually allow access to information on state contracts, payroll, expenditures, revenue and debt. The site will not include financial data from higher education institutions, who do not use AASIS, the state’s accounting program. However, Act 1163 of 2011 requires colleges and universities to make similar information available on their own Web sites.
SREB Report Lauds Arkansas Progress in Education A new report from the Southern Regional Education Board notes that Arkansas led the nation in eighth-grade math improvement at the Basic level from 2003-2011. The report said Arkansas has made significant gains in education over the past decade, also touting the high participation in Advanced Placement courses by Arkansas students.
Upcoming State Legislative Meetings Friday, July 06, 2012 10:00 AM Room B, MAC STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS- HOUSE Monday, July 09, 2012 11:00 AM Department of Correction - East Arkansas Regional Unit - 326 Lee Road 601 Brickeys STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS-SENATE & HOUSE 1:30 PM Room 151 LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDING DESIGN AND PRACTICES 1:30 PM Room 171 LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-MEDICAID SUBCOMMITTEE Tuesday, July 10, 2012 9:00 AM Room 171 LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-MEDICAID SUBCOMMITTEE 9:30 AM Room 130 TASK FORCE ON ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN
12:15 PM Hilton Garden Inn, 2840 S. Caraway Road Jonesboro AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - SENATE & HOUSE Wednesday, July 11, 2012 8:15 AM Cooper Alumni Center, 2600 Alumni Boulevard Jonesboro AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - SENATE & HOUSE 1:30 PM Room B, MAC ALC-REVIEW Thursday, July 12, 2012 10:00 AM Room 171 PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE & HOUSE 10:00 AM Room 151 TASK FORCE ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT SERVICES 12:00 PM Southridge Village of Cabot - 601 East Mountain Springs Road Cabot ALZHEIMER'S ADVISORY COUNCIL 1:30 PM Room B, MAC ALC-PEER New customers can get a discount on high-speed Internet by Satellite from HughesNet. $99 INSTANT CREDIT at time of Activation of NEW HughesNet account for Farm Bureau Members! CALL 1-866-556-9661 Looking for a great recipe? Check out Arkansas Farm Bureau’s new blog at http://www.tastearkansas.com. It features new recipes almost daily and Arkansas farmers. VISIT THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU WEBSITE AT http://www.arfb.com HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE You are receiving this newsletter because you requested that your email address be added to the electronic newsletter. To unsubscribe please reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line, or send a separate email to Teresa.smith@arfb.com ----------------------------------------------------Arkansas Farm Bureau 10720 Kanis Road Little Rock, AR 72211 501-224-4400