Print this page

Issues Update

Farm Bureau Establishes National Priorities

Following the delegate session of the 94th Annual Meeting, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Board of directors met in Nashville to set the strategic action plan for 2013.

 

This plan represents those strategic issue areas where the Board believes AFBF, the state Farm Bureaus and grassroots members have real opportunities to achieve success this year, as well as setting the stage for progress on longer term policy challenges.  

  Strategic Plan for 2013:

  •  Work for passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and for reform to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.
  • Work for passage of a new farm bill that meets our core principles by September 2013.
  • Defend the standards and incentives necessary to further develop the U.S. renewable fuels industry.
  • Work for legislation in early 2013 that addresses both long- and short-term agricultural labor needs.
  • Oppose EPA efforts to expand the scope of “navigable waters” subject to federal regulation under the Clean Water Act (CWA).
  • Oppose expansion of federal CWA permit requirements for poultry and livestock farms and ranches.
  • Protect farmer and rancher business tax interests in the debate on fiscal policy and tax reform.
  • Protect farmer and rancher interests in development of FDA food safety regulations

 

Farm Vehicle Exemptions in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21

On July 6, 2012 President Obama signed into law H.R. 4348, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).  Included in the law were several exemptions relating to farm vehicles for farmers and ranchers.  These exemptions went into effect on Oct. 1, 2012.

As states seek to conform to the new provisions established in MAP-21, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has released an updated questions and answers document

AgExempt_MAP-21_QA_Update.pdf

 

Arkansas General Assembly

Senate Committees and Leadership
Michael Lamoureax (R-Russellville) was chosen to be the new President Pro Temp- Elect.  The Majority Leader for the Senate will be Eddie Joe Williams (R-Cabot.) The Minority Leader will be Keith Ingram (D-West Memphis). The party whips will be Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy) and Bobby Pierce (D-Sheridan.)

Included below are the committee assignments for the Senate.

Public Health
Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R), Chair
Sen. Paul Bookout (D), Vice-chair
Sen. Linda Chesterfield (D)
Sen. Stephanie Flowers (D)
Sen. David Burnett (D)
Sen. Missy Irvin (R)
Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R)
Sen. Ronald Caldwell (R)

Revenue & Tax
Sen. Jake Files (R), Chair
Sen. Larry Teague (D), Vice-chair
Sen. David Johnson (D)
Sen. Bill Sample (R)
Sen. David Sanders (R)
Sen. Bart Hester (R)
Sen. Michael Lamoureux (R)
Sen. Bruce Maloch (D)

Education
Sen. Johnny Key (R), Chair
Sen. Joyce Elliott (D), Vice-chair
Sen. Uvalde Lindsey (D)
Sen. Alan Clark (R)
Sen. Jim Hendren (R)
Sen. Eddie Cheatham (D)
Sen. Jason Rapert (R)
Sen. Bruce Holland (R)

Judiciary
Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, Chair
Sen. Robert Thompson (D), Vice-chair
Sen. Eddie Joe Williams (R)
Sen. Jane English (R)
Sen. Keith Ingram (D)
Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R)
Sen. Jon Woods (R)
Sen. Bryan King (R)

Agriculture/Economic Development
Sen. Bruce Holland (R), Chair
Sen. Bruce Maloch (D), Vice-chair
Sen. David Wyatt (D)
Sen. Stephanie Flowers (D)
Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R)
Sen. Ronald Caldwell (R)
Sen. Alan Clark (R)
Sen. David Sanders (R)

Insurance & Commerce
Sen. Jason Rapert, Chair
Sen. Keith Ingram (D), Vice-chair
Sen. Michael Lamoureux
Sen. Jon Woods (R)
Sen. Paul Bookout (D)
Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R)
Sen. Johnny Key (R)
Sen. Joyce Elliott (D)

State Agencies
Sen. Eddie Joe Williams (R), Chair
Sen. Jane English (R), Vice-chair
Sen. Robert Thompson (D)
Sen. Bobby Pierce (D)
Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R)
Sen. Jimmy Hickey (R)
Sen. Bryan King (R)
Sen. David Johnson (D)

City, County & Local
Sen. Missy Irvin (R), Chair
Sen. David Burnett (D), Vice-chair
Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson (R)
Sen. Sen. Uvalde Lindsey (D)
Sen. Bart Hester (R)
Sen. Eddie Cheatham (D)

Also, key chairmanships for other committees were announced.

Joint Budget
Sen. Larry Teague (D), Chair
Sen. Johnny Key (R), Vice-chair

Legislative Council
Sen. Paul Bookout (D), Chair
Sen. Bill Sample (R), Vice-chair

Legislative Audit
Sen. Bryan King (R), Chair
Sen. Linda Chesterfield (D), Vice Chair

Senators also drew to see which would serve a two or four year term beginning in January 2013. The Senate draws their first term length after each re-districting to establish a staggered election cycle for the Senate. Another consequence of the draw is that some Senators will be allowed to serve ten years vs. eight years. A few Senators could serve as many as 12 years. Arkansas term limit law states that Senators may serve two four year terms therefore drawing a two year means that a Senator has to stand for re-election after only two years but that two year term doesn’t count against their term limit.

Senate Senority LIst.pdf

 

House Committees in place
House members select committees based on their congressional caucus and seniority. Representatives with lower seniority numbers frequently do not get their first choice on committee assignments.

The Arkansas House of Representatives has ten standing committees. The ten House committees are split evenly into A and B categories. All House Members serve on one A Committee and one B Committee. The Speaker of the House appoints a chairperson and vice chairperson to each standing committee. Rep. Davy Carter of Cabot has been chosen as the Speaker of the House by a majority of his peers.

Additionally, all standing House committees have a number of subcommittees. The Speaker of the House appoints members from the standing committee to serve as chair and vice chair of individual subcommittees. The chair and vice chairperson from each A and B committee serve as ex-officio members on all subcommittees.

House Committees.pdf

House Seniority List for 89th General Assembly.pdf

 

 

 

 



Get Adobe Reader The documents on this page are available in PDF format. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to view the files. If you do not have the Reader installed, you may download it FREE.