<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Now is the time to harangue your reps about farm and food policy.]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by GreenEngineer http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/ Wed, 16 May 2007 07:44:20 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/1 levers?

Is there any effective way for the public to lobby Peterson and Harkin if you don't happen to live in their district.  Obviously, we can send letters, but is that a waste of time for non-constituents?

]]> levers?

Is there any effective way for the public to lobby Peterson and Harkin if you don't happen to live in their district.  Obviously, we can send letters, but is that a waste of time for non-constituents?

]]> Comment #2 by Delay And Deny http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/ Wed, 16 May 2007 08:18:03 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/2 In-deeee-aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

incentives to purchase healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, because these foods are typically more expensive and out of reach to low-income people. On the surface it's hard to argue against more access to healthy food for everyone.

Here's what I think.   My favorite restaurant in the world is India Combo on Kent East Hill.  For $6.95, it's all you can eat of the most perfect Indian food in the world.   Plus they make their nan bread fresh, even for the buffet (no one else does this).

http://www.indiacombo.com/buffet.htm

I can eat there, stuff myself, and not have to eat again all day.   The food is usually 2 vegi dishes, two meat dishes, 2 fried vege dishes, a salad bar including fruit and the dal and chutneys.

Why is anyone on earth starving or not eating well when such a place exists?  

Every poor person should be banned from McDonalds and potato chips and be given a food coupon booklet for their nearest authentic Indian buffet.

Problem Sol-Ved.

John Bailo, The "Denier Guy"
You Read It Here First

]]> In-deeee-aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

incentives to purchase healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, because these foods are typically more expensive and out of reach to low-income people. On the surface it's hard to argue against more access to healthy food for everyone.

Here's what I think.   My favorite restaurant in the world is India Combo on Kent East Hill.  For $6.95, it's all you can eat of the most perfect Indian food in the world.   Plus they make their nan bread fresh, even for the buffet (no one else does this).

http://www.indiacombo.com/buffet.htm

I can eat there, stuff myself, and not have to eat again all day.   The food is usually 2 vegi dishes, two meat dishes, 2 fried vege dishes, a salad bar including fruit and the dal and chutneys.

Why is anyone on earth starving or not eating well when such a place exists?  

Every poor person should be banned from McDonalds and potato chips and be given a food coupon booklet for their nearest authentic Indian buffet.

Problem Sol-Ved.

John Bailo, The "Denier Guy"
You Read It Here First

]]> Comment #3 by aleta http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/ Wed, 16 May 2007 14:44:09 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/3 a lever

To answer GreenEngineer's question, one "lever" the general public can use is to read up about various marker bills and if you see one (or more) that you like, call your Representative and ask him or her to co-sponsor that bill (assuming they haven't already).  (Keep in mind that marker bills are not intended to be comprehensive policy, but suggestions for how to address certain issues.) My understanding is that the Agriculture Committee members are likely to more seriously consider a marker bill that has broad support, and one indicator of this is the number of cosponsors it has.  There are quite a few organizations that have already done the research and are supporting various marker bills.  You may want to check with organizations you support and see if they're supporting any marker bills.  There are also various sign-on letters floating around.  

]]> a lever

To answer GreenEngineer's question, one "lever" the general public can use is to read up about various marker bills and if you see one (or more) that you like, call your Representative and ask him or her to co-sponsor that bill (assuming they haven't already).  (Keep in mind that marker bills are not intended to be comprehensive policy, but suggestions for how to address certain issues.) My understanding is that the Agriculture Committee members are likely to more seriously consider a marker bill that has broad support, and one indicator of this is the number of cosponsors it has.  There are quite a few organizations that have already done the research and are supporting various marker bills.  You may want to check with organizations you support and see if they're supporting any marker bills.  There are also various sign-on letters floating around.  

]]> Comment #4 by meander http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/ Wed, 16 May 2007 16:11:28 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/4 Will Pelosi allow amendments?

Steph wrote "With the current level of public pressure to make major adjustments to the way farmers are paid and food is grown, I wouldn't be completely surprised if there were one or more viable challenges to the Agriculture Committee's proposal on the floor this time around."

There are enough interest groups lining up so that a "floor fight" could break out.  But will the House leadership allow one?  In the House, the Rules Committee (and leadership) will decide how many amendments will be allowed for the Ag Committee's offering.  If this number is very low, there won't be much of a floor fight.  After the shameful and near tyrannical reign of the Republicans in recent years -- in which bills were provided to members just hours before the vote, amendments were not allowed, and the minority party shut out of the conference process -- the Dems are probably going to have to allow some amendments to be offered to show their openness to debate.  At the Mulch blog, Ken Cook of the Environmental Working Group wondered if Pelosi has already assured Peterson that his bill will make it to a vote without amendment.

Those who live in districts with members of Congress who are not on the Agriculture Committees, tell your lawmakers to not trade his or her vote away without serious concessions.  Residents of Speaker Pelosi's district (San Francisco), include something in your Farm Bill letter asking for a real debate with amendments when it comes to the floor of the House.

Check if your members of Congress are on the Ag Committee:  House Ag Committee members, Senate Ag Committee members

]]> Will Pelosi allow amendments?

Steph wrote "With the current level of public pressure to make major adjustments to the way farmers are paid and food is grown, I wouldn't be completely surprised if there were one or more viable challenges to the Agriculture Committee's proposal on the floor this time around."

There are enough interest groups lining up so that a "floor fight" could break out.  But will the House leadership allow one?  In the House, the Rules Committee (and leadership) will decide how many amendments will be allowed for the Ag Committee's offering.  If this number is very low, there won't be much of a floor fight.  After the shameful and near tyrannical reign of the Republicans in recent years -- in which bills were provided to members just hours before the vote, amendments were not allowed, and the minority party shut out of the conference process -- the Dems are probably going to have to allow some amendments to be offered to show their openness to debate.  At the Mulch blog, Ken Cook of the Environmental Working Group wondered if Pelosi has already assured Peterson that his bill will make it to a vote without amendment.

Those who live in districts with members of Congress who are not on the Agriculture Committees, tell your lawmakers to not trade his or her vote away without serious concessions.  Residents of Speaker Pelosi's district (San Francisco), include something in your Farm Bill letter asking for a real debate with amendments when it comes to the floor of the House.

Check if your members of Congress are on the Ag Committee:  House Ag Committee members, Senate Ag Committee members

]]> Comment #5 by Steph Larsen http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/ Thu, 17 May 2007 00:13:20 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/5 Pelosi and amendments

Ken Cook's post was a good one, and there was another good analysis by Dan Owens on Center for Rural Affairs blog. Dan makes a good point that in the past, the Rules Committee was "owned" by the Republican leadership, and I think we have yet to see what the Democrats will do. I think we all deserve a (small d) democratic process for a bill that controls so much of what we eat.

]]> Pelosi and amendments

Ken Cook's post was a good one, and there was another good analysis by Dan Owens on Center for Rural Affairs blog. Dan makes a good point that in the past, the Rules Committee was "owned" by the Republican leadership, and I think we have yet to see what the Democrats will do. I think we all deserve a (small d) democratic process for a bill that controls so much of what we eat.

]]> Comment #6 by Steph Larsen http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/ Thu, 17 May 2007 00:22:24 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/6 Effective lobbying

There are lots of ways for the public to influence the Farm Bill. If you're not in Peterson's or Harkin's district, you can still talk to your legislators about Farm Bill issues you care about because even if they aren't on the Agriculture Committee, they might be able to use political power in other ways. Other important committees include Budget, Ways and Means, Finance, etc.

Other ways to lobby include:
Calling friends and colleagues in districts or states with Ag. Committee members and asking them to call their legislators. When I do this, I try to give them talking points.
Supporting organizations with your time or money that are working on Farm Bill issues in ways you believe in
Writing letters and FAXing them to Harkin and Peterson (otherwise it takes 2 months for them to get it) or calling their offices and asking to speak with the person who works on agriculture issues. You don't have to live in their district. Heck, I don't live in their districts and I call them frequently.

Lots of ways to get involved, but time is short. Personally, I think the most important thing is to make sure legislators know we're paying attention, and that we want a meaningful, open, democratic process. Isn't that one of the reasons the Democrats are in control? Show me the democracy.


]]> Effective lobbying

There are lots of ways for the public to influence the Farm Bill. If you're not in Peterson's or Harkin's district, you can still talk to your legislators about Farm Bill issues you care about because even if they aren't on the Agriculture Committee, they might be able to use political power in other ways. Other important committees include Budget, Ways and Means, Finance, etc.

Other ways to lobby include:
Calling friends and colleagues in districts or states with Ag. Committee members and asking them to call their legislators. When I do this, I try to give them talking points.
Supporting organizations with your time or money that are working on Farm Bill issues in ways you believe in
Writing letters and FAXing them to Harkin and Peterson (otherwise it takes 2 months for them to get it) or calling their offices and asking to speak with the person who works on agriculture issues. You don't have to live in their district. Heck, I don't live in their districts and I call them frequently.

Lots of ways to get involved, but time is short. Personally, I think the most important thing is to make sure legislators know we're paying attention, and that we want a meaningful, open, democratic process. Isn't that one of the reasons the Democrats are in control? Show me the democracy.


]]> Comment #7 by meander http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/ Fri, 18 May 2007 14:20:15 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/influencing-the-farm-bill/7 Writing to Congress

Building on what Steph Larsen wrote above:  

When I receive letters back from Senator Boxer, she includes a postscript saying that letters sent to the Senate and House office buildings are delayed for a long period of time for security screening, but letters to the district offices will be read by staff almost immediately.  The webpages for members of Congress will show the addresses of one or more district offices.

]]> Writing to Congress

Building on what Steph Larsen wrote above:  

When I receive letters back from Senator Boxer, she includes a postscript saying that letters sent to the Senate and House office buildings are delayed for a long period of time for security screening, but letters to the district offices will be read by staff almost immediately.  The webpages for members of Congress will show the addresses of one or more district offices.

]]>