Election Reaction to the 2019 Congress
48 views · Published 30 November 2018 · 2:37 · Indexed 3 October 2026
Channel: RFD-TV · 2018 · Entertainment
Washington November 12 2018 Lawmakers are back in Washington today, with just a few weeks to go before the house changes hands. Washington’s rural advocates say they have the kinds of bipartisan ideas that will unite next years divided congress—namely around infrastructure. “I think there’s a lot of work to be done in terms of making a new bill. The president has put out proposals. Various members of congress have put out proposals, but the bottom line is they all carry that common thread, they all want to make investments in America.” “It should be about more than roads and bridges though. We want to invest in electric grid reliability, we want to invest in broadband, we think all of that should be included in the definition of infrastructure.” Matheson is optimistic, saying the thin democratic majority gives moderates more power to reach across the aisle and find pragmatic solutions. Likely democratic leaders say they too are looking to get things done in 2019, including approving the new USMCA. “I’m going to support it. And encourage my colleagues to support it. I talked to Nancy Pelosi, she indicated to me that she’s going to do everything to work in a bipartisan way on the farm bill, infrastructure.” Peterson says he hopeful the USDA can assist with a farm bill compromise by taking administrative action against snap work requirement waivers used by states. He says if the department closes loopholes, the work requirements in the house farm bill, which have held up the process, may be unnecessary. Beyond the farm bill, others are hoping that regulatory fixes at USDA will help further their goals as well. “In terms of the rural broadband space, there’s a lot of opportunity for the secretary and the department of agriculture to guide that program in a more favorable direction. And so we are engaged in communicating with the USDA about how we view that issue, other groups are doing it as well. But at the end of the day 23 million people don’t have broadband, and the existing programs aren’t working.” In the meantime, ensuring the new farm bill gets signed into law, with strong supports for rural, is a top priority both on and off capitol hill. “We’re going to advocate for getting it done during the lame duck before the new congress comes in.” The major difference between the house and senate versions, the nutrition title, isn’t the only issues setting the two versions apart. Matheson says his organization is advocating for the house bill, because of it’s stronger rural broadband, credit, and rural utilities service provisions. for rfd-tv I’m Sarah Mock in Washington. A Key question on the farm bill remains whether—even if a compromise is reached between the leaders – house republicans would vote to approve the new measure, given that it passed with only republican votes earlier this year. Jim Matheson, NRECA Congressman Collin Peterson Sarah Mock Washington Bureau Chief, RFD-TV @Sarah_K_Mock
