The ability of Senate Democrats to get legislation passed on their own
could be less than the 60 vote majority they now enjoy. That's the
reality after Senators Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.,
announced they will not seek reelection this year. There decision makes
them wild-cards for legislation slated to be brought up this year.
Dorgan, a moderate, has disagreed on several issues with Democratic
leadership and the White House and could be a key figure on several bills.
Dorgan has been a big supporter of renewable fuels and agriculture, and
both senators have played large roles in pushing Cuba ag trade and
travel bills. Dorgan has sponsored Cuba trade reform bills just about
every year since 2000 when Congress passed landmark legislation to lift
the embargo for food and medicine. Last month he was successful in
undoing Bush era restrictions that had been kept by the Obama
Administration on ag sales to Cuba through this fiscal year ending Sep. 30.
Congress still needs to pass a permanent fix to end Cuban ag trade
restrictions or Farm Bureau's Mark Maslyn says it will have to continue
temporary fixes in annual spending bills. He praised both senators'
efforts to obtain a permanent fix icluding to permanently allow direct
payments by Cuba, which under Treasury Department restrictions, must
still arrange payment through third-country banks.
"The policy of an embargo against Cuba has failed," Maslyn said. "It has
kept the Cuban population in poverty and has restricted the United
States from accessing a market that is 90 miles off our shore that could
be a huge market."
Without restrictions, Farm Bureau estimates agricultural sales to Cuba
could double to almost $1 billion a year.
"We certainly owe a debt of gratitude to Senators Dodd and Dorgan," said
Corn Refiners Association President Audrae Erickson. "But fortunately
there are many champions that remain, not the least of which Chairman
[Max] Bacus (D-Mont.) and Senator [Richard] Lugar (R-Ind.) and possibly
those that replace these two important Senators."
There has been speculation that popular Republican North Dakota Governor
John Hoeven could seek the seat being vacated by Dorgan. One poll had
Dorgan behind in a potential match up against Hoeven by about 20 points.
Western Farmer-Stockman - Two Senate Democrats Stepping Down (7 January
2010)
http://mobile.westernfarmerstockman.com/index.aspx?ascxid=cmsNewsStory&rmid=0&rascxid=&args=&rargs=8&dt=633984337997462500&lid=a8yebu2d9qxnz7lo&adms=633984337994025000Xd73fff6347&cmsSid=34467&cmsScid=8
No comments:
Post a Comment