Washington Developments; Name of ACRP
Charles Benbrook (benbrook@hillnet.com)
Sun, 24 Dec 1995 09:58:04 -0500 (EST)
Neil, in response to your questions re the Agricultural and Resources
Conservation Program (ARCP), yes, that is the right title. Much of the
ideas/structure go back to a bill Dole drafted in about 1986, called
ECARP. Dole's bill proposed combining CRP and wetlands reserve, and added
new authorities and tools for dealing with fragile/degraded and
high-pollutant loadings lands. Not too much of the original bill remains.
There is growing support in Washington for a "Fund for Rural
America" which will inlcude permanent funding from CCC for CRP and WRP,
plus some money for EQIP and research and rural development. The Fund
will evolve into the foundation idea that NRCS proposed at the start of
the farmbill process and the foundation AFT recommended in its March, 1995
farmbill proposal. Looks like there might be about $2.5 to $3
billion/year for the fund, maybe 500-700 million more than exisiting
CRP+WRP funding. Blue Dog Dems, USDA/Glickman, and the White House are
for it.
Part of its roots are also Sen. Lugar's Agricultural
Competiveness Act, which basically goes back to the idea of a $500
million NRI. Lugar's support and leadership will be key for this to
happen, since Dole is for it. Roberts and House repubs. are the
stumbling block.
Whether the Fund will survive a budget reconcialiation deal is
unknown, as is whether there is going to be a deal. My gut sense is the
politics fell over the cliff this week. That attack ads on Clinton will
be viewed as the straw that broke the camel's back. Soon, when the
negotiations resume, they will agree they can not agree, and will then
they WILL agree on a Continuing Resolution for the rest of the year that
cuts deeply into agencies without FY 1996 approps. Both the Repub.s in
Congress and White House will acknowledge "irreconciable differences" too
important to resolve without another election. The tax cuts, and shape
of the tax code; Medicaire/Medicaid; welfare reform; regulatory relief;
and innumerable other major issues will be put off, and all Americans
will have a full year of unabashed politicking from our elected "leaders".
Oh by the way, another reason I think the process has run aground
was a speech made on the floor of the House I think Friday, maybe
Thursday by Approps. Committee Chairman Bob Livingston. It was the most
bombastic, "we will go through the depths of Hell before we give in to these
_____ on the other side of the ailse that would rather bank-rupt the
country to keep their liberal friends going..." that I have ever seen.
He pounded the lecturn; his arms were flying throw the air; his
temples were bursting with emotion; and when done, he trust the
lecturn out of his way and strutted off like a rooster into the midst
of his admiring, and now fully worked up flock. It was a sight to
see; definitely belongs in the "greatest hits" album. Anyone
else catch it on C-Span? Chairman Livingston is a thoughtful,
respected and generally measured man, and has, in general done a good job
keeping things moving. The forces that led him to the floor, to say what
he did, with the force of conviction and moral outrage that he summoned, are
the same forces that will/have sunk the budget negotiations.
Merry Xmas everyone. Thanks to Anne and Margeret for such nice
thoughts and good cheer. Chuck Benbrook, correspondent from crazy land.