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PNS - Tuesday, May 9, 2023 - GOP lawmakers in Texas decide bills focused on Harris County elections, an Oregon bill corrects food-aid exclusion for immigrant communities, and women earn 79 cents for every dollar a man earns in Ohio.
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Big Sky Connection - Despite Gov. Greg Gianforte's veto after the Legislature had already adjourned, environmental advocates are not giving up hope that a key piece of conservation legislation will still become law. Senate Bill 442 would have infused $30 million into Habitat Montana, the state's premier environmental conservation program. Comments from Alex Blackmer, communications manager, Wild Montana.
Click on the image above for the audio. Senate Bill 442 would have appropriated $30 million to Habitat Montana, the state's premier environmental conservation program. (Adobe Stock)
Mark Moran
May 8, 2023 - Despite the veto of a key piece of Montana environmental legislation, advocates are not giving up on the measure becoming law - even though the state Legislature has already adjourned.
Senate bill 442 would have infused $30 million into the coffers of Habitat Montana, the state's premier conservation program created by the Legislature.
It protects wildlife habitat and access to public lands for hunters, hikers and fishermen - as well as roads, veterans' programs and mental-health services.
Alex Blackmer, communications manager with Wild Montana, said the bill had unwavering bipartisan support - which is why it shocked him and other supporters when Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoed it after the session ended.
"It's supported by farmers and ranchers and veterans and hunters and local governments and business organizations and conservationists and EMTs and you name it," said Blackmer. "So, for the governor to have vetoed it the way he did is really disappointing."
Gianforte cited some technical and funding issues in his veto letter, but Blackmer said supporters are attempting what's known as a "poll override" - which involves sending questionnaires to lawmakers who could still choose to override the veto, even though they are no longer at the Capitol.
The poll override works like this: The Montana Secretary of State sends out the questionnaire, which has to be completed and returned within 30 days.
Blackmer said this amounts to a last-ditch effort to save a critical piece of environmental legislation.
"Because the Legislature has a constitutional right to address a governor's veto, this is just a way for them to do that when they're not all gathered in the same place," said Blackmer. "Everyone has gone home. A lot of folks are back to work, back on their land. It's a chance for everyone to participate in the democratic process."
136 of Montana's 150 legislators voted in favor of the bill. Two-thirds of the Legislature would have to vote to overturn the veto during the mail-in poll override effort.
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By Mark Moran - Producer-Editor, Contact News - Based on facts, either observed and verified by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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PNS - Monday, May 8, 2023 - A Texas mass shooting left at least eight dead, and calls mount on lawmakers for better gun safety. Bill Barr says former president Trump would only deliver chaos, not policy goals. Officials at the border expect serious challenges with the end of Title 42.
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By Adam Goldstein
A hay bale rolled up on a far (Photo by Navymano via Wikimedia Commons |CC-BY-SA 4.0)
May 5, 2023
WASHINGTON — Rural bank executives and crop insurance agents testified at a Thursday Senate hearing in support of a modernized crop insurance market that helps upstart producers manage growing risks, and supports food security.
The witnesses told the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry that crop insurance represents one of the most important financial tools in the agricultural producer’s toolbox. They added that efforts to weaken it or tie it to climate provisions in the farm bill would undercut the economies of rural America that depend on it.
“I would submit that it’s the only viable risk management tool that our farmers have today,” said William Cole, chairman of the Crop Insurance Professionals Association. “It’s the underpinning of all of our rural communities, to a certain extent.”
The federal crop insurance program, contained in Title XI of the farm bill, helps make insurance coverage available to farmers from private sector insurers to mitigate potential financial consequences of adverse growing and market conditions.
The finance leaders argued that crop insurance premiums should be lowered to encourage greater participation, which would consequently decrease risk for all producers. They said that given farmers and ranchers are financially invested in the safety net, a strong crop insurance program is more economically efficient to American taxpayers than ad-hoc disaster relief.
Read more: Rural lenders, crop insurance agents push for bolstered safety net at farm bill hearing
