Climate, budget issues focus at AFBF meeting

www.farmweeknow.com
Martin Ross
2009-12-30

Congress’ unfinished business will be a key focus for producers from throughout the U.S. at American Farm Bureau Federation’s 91st annual meeting, Jan. 9-13 in Seattle.

The fate of the federal estate tax and the direction of domestic cap-and-trade debate in the wake of the recent Copenhagen global climate summit offered pre-Christmas fodder for Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson and other members of AFBF’s Resolutions Committee (AFBF-RC).

The committee tweaked 2009 AFBF policies and drafted new policies for delegate consideration at the annual meeting, which will feature a keynote address by Texas rancher and former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw and key sessions on climate, livestock care, and social media.

With health care taking center stage, the Senate deferred House proposals aimed at capping annual industrial and utility greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The AFBF-RC drafted policy opposing current cap-and-trade legislation that according to IFB National Legislative Director Adam Nielsen is not “fair, affordable, nor achievable.”

Proposed policy specifically opposes GHG caps on any ag entity and voices concerns about incentives for tree planting as a carbon sequestration strategy that could result in reduced food production.

Delegates also will consider proposals aimed at addressing the federal debt, based on findings by AFBF’s Federal Deficit Task Force Committee. The AFBF-RC submitted new delegate proposals supporting reduced federal entitlement spending and tax increases designed to balance the budget -- as long as they are discontinued after balance is achieved.

In addition, the committee recommended adjusting estate tax policy provisions to reflect ongoing congressional tax reform efforts. Under current law, the estate tax was eliminated last Friday but could return in 2011 at a 55 percent rate and a reduced exemption.

In December, the House voted to permanently extend the current $3.5 million individual exemption and 45 percent top rate, with no adjustment in the exemption for future inflation. The Senate failed to act on the House plan or a proposed new $5 million exemption indexed for inflation, and Democrat leaders may attempt to pass estate tax extension retroactive to Jan. 1 when Congress returns this month.

Farm Bureau supports the $5 million exemption, but existing AFBF policy seeks a $10 million individual exclusion -- an unlikely prospect in the current Congress.


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