Hillary Clinton
White House takes step toward sending TPP to Congress
The Obama administration “took an important procedural step toward putting the Trans-Pacific Partnership before Congress” by outlining the legislation that would align U.S. law with the 12-nation free-trade agreement, said Agri-Pulse.
Campaign for immigration reform aims for action in 2017
The "Reason for Reform" campaign launched by proponents of comprehensive immigration reform is trying to persuade Republican lawmakers to support an overhaul in 2017 with the argument that the U.S. economy would benefit, says Politico. The campaign, backed by a group led by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, underscores that "reform — should it occur next year — will be a fiercely contested legislative fight."
Clinton asks California regulators how to revamp biofuel mandate
Advisers for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton sought advice from California regulators on ways to revamp U.S. biofuel mandates, said Reuters. Corn-based ethanol is popular in the Midwest so the possibility of change in the so-called Renewable Fuel Standard could hurt her in corn states "like Iowa, where she faces a tough battle against Republican rival Donald Trump in the Nov. 8 election."
Will Vilsack be the 21st-century version of ‘Tama Jim’ Wilson?
Tom Vilsack is the longest-serving agriculture secretary in half a century, and there's already chatter about a continued role in government if Democrats retain control of the White House. "That will be up to Hillary Clinton," said Sen. Charles Grassley, who notes that fellow Iowan "Tama Jim" Wilson holds the record for cabinet tenure — 16 years.
What Trump and Clinton staffers eat
The Clinton campaign loads up on Domino’s and Walmart groceries, while Trump staffers hit up Trump Grill and McDonald's, says Eater. The site searched spending records from the Federal Elections Commission to find out how each presidential hopeful was feeding their staff.
Former Vilsack adviser at USDA becomes Kaine’s chief of staff
Matt Paul, communications director for Tom Vilsack when he was governor of Iowa and later agriculture secretary, will work as the chief of staff for Democrat Tim Kaine as he campaigns for vice president, said the Des Moines Register.
Prevent post-election vote on TPP, Sanders asks Democrats
During a speech endorsing Hillary Clinton for president, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders called for Democrats to prevent a congressional vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership after the November election, the period when farm groups believe the trade pact has its best chance of passage. "We have to be sure that TPP does not get to the floor of Congress during the lame-duck session," said Sanders at the Democratic National Convention.
Democratic platform boosts family farms, stewardship, clean energy
At its presidential convention opening today, the Democratic Party will adopt a platform that vows to support family farms, "provide a focused safety net" and encourage development of clean fuels. "We believe that in order to be effective in keeping our air and water clean and combatting climate change, we must enlist farmers as partners in promoting conservation and stewardship," says the 55-page draft.
Kaine more likely choice for VP than Vilsack, say reports
The presumptive Democratic nominee for president, Hillary Clinton, seemed likely to choose Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate, although Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also was a possibility, said published reports. Clinton could announce her choice as early as this afternoon while campaigning in Florida.
Reports have Vilsack in top tier of vice-presidential possibilities
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has vaulted into the top tier of Democrats under consideration by the Hillary Clinton campaign for nomination as vice president, said Politico. The Hagstrom Report, meanwhile, cited a source close to the Clinton campaign as saying Vilsack was under serious consideration.
Vilsack remains contender as Clinton nears VP choice
Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton is likely to campaign with her choice for vice president in Florida on Saturday, said the New York Times, listing Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack among the four men still under consideration for the job. Former president Bill Clinton "has privately expressed his support for Sen. Tim Kaine," said the newspaper.
An agriculture secretary for veep? That’s a winning ticket, historically.
Hillary Clinton isn't the first presumptive Democratic presidential nominee to think about putting a successful agriculture secretary from Iowa on the ticket. Franklin Roosevelt did it in 1940, choosing fellow New Dealer Henry A Wallace as his running mate on the way to drubbing Republican businessman Wendell Willkie, and his vice presidential nominee, Sen. Charles McNary.
Tom Vilsack, vice-presidential timber?
It's the political murmur with legs — the idea of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack as running mate for Hillary Clinton, the presumption Democratic nominee for president. In the latest whisper, Vilsack is among 21 vice-presidential "possibilities," including two other members of the Obama cabinet, listed by the political website Sabato's Crystal Ball.
Peterson, a Blue Dog Democrat, feels the Bern
Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson, a conservative Democrat, has found unexpected acclaim for pledging to vote the same way at his party's presidential convention in late July as his constituents did in the March 1 caucuses: for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Soda tax in Philly? “I’m very supportive,” says Clinton
Campaigning ahead of Tuesday's primary election in Pennsylvania, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton said "I'm very supportive" of the 3-cent-an-ounce soda tax proposed by Mayor Jim Kenney, reported CNN.
United Farm Workers endorses Clinton for president
After lengthy discussions and an hour-long interview with Hillary Clinton, the United Farm Workers board endorsed the former secretary of state for president.
Pundit sees problem for Clinton on three rural issues
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could feel some "presidency heartburn" in Iowa and New Hampshire, the states that open the nominating process, because of her position on three issues, says political analyst Matt Baron in The Hill newspaper.
Clinton: Focus the farm safety net on family operations
As president, Hillary Clinton says she would focus the farm safety net - crop supports, crop insurances and disaster relief - on "farmers and ranchers that truly need it the most, not those who have the biggest businesses or the best connections. We will change the formula."
Rural job growth is one-tenth of big-city total
The largest U.S. urban areas, with populations of 1 million or more, enjoyed a 2-percent expansion in the number of jobs since last June, while in rural counties "job growth was a bit more than a tenth of that rate, or 0.29 percent, or about 60,000 jobs," reports the Daily Yonder. In the 924 counties that are not adjacent to any metropolitan area, the number of jobs declined by just over 1,000.