|
| | ||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| HOME | ABOUT US | CONTACT US | SUBSCRIBE | NEWSSTAND LOCATIONS | ||||
| ||||
|
|
| | |
Editorial -- More review needed on climate-change legislation Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Several in the agriculture industry have cried foul over H.R. 2454, the Waxman-Markey climate change and energy legislation.
They are concerned that the bill will raise costs of production for livestock producers and potentially kill the ethanol industry.
The National Pork Producers Council anticipates an increase in energy and input costs of more than 20 percent under the proposed climate change legislation.
Both Farmers Union and Farm Bureau have also raised concerns.
"Any legislation considered needs to make economic sense, not just for agriculture, but for our economy as a whole," said a press release from the Minnesota Farm Bureau board of directors. "We don't believe this bill lives up to those expectations."
National Farmers Union president Roger Johnson had this to say: "NFU has been proactive and constructive throughout the legislative process and would very much like to support climate change legislation. However, the Energy and Commerce Committee failed to adequately address any of our priorities."
We share the concerns expressed by these agricultural groups. Too often, bills are written by well-meaning folks who don't have a clue how the rule will be implemented and carried out.
While we think climate change needs to be addressed, we think the issue deserves to have a hearing in the nine committees that have jurisdiction over the bill, not just the Energy and Commerce Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif.
Rather than coming up for a vote in the House of Representatives this week, the bill should be sent to committee for hearings.
Taking a few extra weeks to hold hearings to gather valuable input won't weaken the bill, instead it will make it better.
The outcome of this bill will have far-reaching impacts on agriculture and consumers as well. We urge Congress to consider the consequences of their bill before acting in haste. It's better to listen before they vote than to have to try to fix something they've broken.
|
| | |
| |
Copyright 2009 Agri News
All Rights Reserved
