From soda taxes in California to neck-and-neck Senate races in the heartland, an abundance of races of import for U.S. food and agriculture policy will be decided in the Nov 4 elections. Here are capsule views of the major contests:
Kansas – Third-term Sen Pat Roberts, potentially the next chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is in a surprisingly close race against independent Greg Orman, a businessman. Roberts, a Republican, was the House sponsor of the “freedom to farm” law of 1996 that removed most federal controls over what farmers grow, a landmark in scaling back the government role in agriculture. Roberts is a supporter of federally subsidized crop insurance. During debate on the 2014 farm law, he called for large cuts in food stamps and voted against the bill in the end. Orman says federal crop insurance “is critical to ensuring a vibrant agricultural economy.”
Arkansas – Conservative first-term Rep Tom Cotton is challenging Sen Mark Pryor, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee, which oversees funding for USDA, FDA and the CFTC. Pryor has criticized Cotton for voting against th 2014 farm law. Cotton says it was a food stamp bill.
Florida – Republican Steve Southerland, who proposed the largest cuts in food stamps in a generation as part of the 2014 farm bill, is challenged by attorney Gwen Graham in a House district in the Florida panhandle that includes the state capital of Tallahassee. Graham is daughter of Bob Graham, the popular former governor and senator. The race is rated as a toss-up.
Minnesota – Collin Peterson, the Democratic leader on the House Agriculture Committee, is challenged by Republican state Sen Torrey Westrom in a Republican-leaning district that covers the western one-third of the state. Peterson, Agriculture chairman during the drafting of the 2008 farm law, backed the new dairy supports of the 2014 farm law and continuation of the sugar program. He is seeking his 13th term.
Iowa – Conservative Republican Steve King, seeking his seventh term representing northwestern Iowa in the House, is mentioned as a possibility for House Agriculture Committee chairman next year, although Mike Conaway of Texas is the favorite. King is challenged by Democrat Jim Mowrer, a veteran. King wants to cut the cost of the food stamp program.
Illinois – First-term Rep Rodney Davis, a narrow winner in 2012, is challenged by former county judge Ann Callis, a top prospect for Democrats. Davis is a critic of school lunch reforms and was an early advocate of a waiver for schools from the rules. Congress has yet to decide the issue.
Colorado and Oregon – Voters will decide in statewide referendums whether to require labels on foods made with genetically modified organisms. This is the third year in a row of GMO-labeling referendums in the West. Foodmakers successfully opposed votes in California in 2012 and in Washington state in 2013.
Oregon’s Question 92 would require labeling of raw and processed foods that contain GMOs sold at retail from January 2016; it does not apply to animal feed or food sold in restaurants. Colorado’s Proposition 105 is worded similarly and has an effective date ofJan 1, 2015; it exempts alcoholic beverages as well. Proposition 105 bars private lawsuits for violations. Oregon’s Question 92 allows state and citizen lawsuits over violations. Both require labels on packages of food and would call for labels on the shelf or bin for raw foods.
California – Voters in Berkeley and San Francisco will vote on city-wide soda taxes. The referendum in Berkeley, for a 1-cent tax, requires a simple majority to pass and would raise $1 million-$3 million a year. The San Francisco issue requires a two-thirds majority for passage because it would earmark the 2-cent tax for nutrition and physical education programs in schools and projects such as water-bottle filing stations. The beverage industry hopes for a one-two knock-out punch against soda taxes; proponents say the vote is chance to curb obesity.
Berkeley’s Measure D would tax sugar-sweetened beverages, such as sodas, energy drinks and sweetened teas and would exempt diet drinks, milk products, 100 percent juices, baby formula, alcohol and “drinks taken for medical reasons.” San Francisco Measure E would tax sugar-sweetened beverages – nonalcoholic fluids with added sweeteners with more than 25 calories per ounce – at a rate of 2 cents per fluid ounce. It would not apply to milk, 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices, infant formula, medical food, nutritional therapy food or diet food.
There are several other races that involve farm states and members of the agriculture committees. In Iowa, Republican Joni Ernst and Democrat Bruce Braley vie for the Senate seat being vacated by Tom Harkin, a prominent sponsor of public nutrition and soil conservation programs. Along with Kansas and Arkansas, the Iowa race could determine control of the Senate.
Two House Agriculture Committee members are in races regarded as toss-ups – Democrats Bill Enyart of Illinois and Rick Nolan of Minnesota. Enyart’s opponent is state Rep Mike Bost in a southern Illinois district that National Journal describes as moderate to conservative. Nolan faces Republican Stewart Mills in district covering northeastern Minnesota.
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