Beef Buzz News
OCA's Michael Kelsey says Congressional Forums Hosted at Upcoming Convention will Showcase Critical Issues
Fri, 15 Jul 2022 09:55:02 CDT
Senior Farm and Ranch Director, Ron Hays, is back with Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President, Michael Kelsey, talking about the two congressional forums planned for the OCA Convention coming up on July 22-23 at the Embassy Suites at Norman, Okla.
Kelsey says OCA is hoping to replicate something done four years ago at their annual meeting when they had a forum between gubernatorial candidates Kevin Stitt and Mick Cornett. This time around in 2022, it will be the second congressional district runoff and the U.S. Senate runoff for Senator Jim Inhofe’s seat.
“We are taking advantage of the placement of our convention,” Kelsey said. “It is just as simple as that. The primary is in June and the runoff is in August. Right in the middle of that 60 days is the OCA convention.”
OCA membership, Kelsey said, has continuously voiced that they are interested in the candidates for those important positions. Because of the interest of members, Kelsey added that the convention is a great opportunity to allow the candidates to meet OCA members and vice-versa.
Kelsey said he is looking forward to the opportunity for the candidates to share their perspectives on important issues such as EPA, McGirt v, Oklahoma, marketing, negotiated trade, tax policy, and overall environmental issues.
On Friday, July 22 Avery Frix and Josh Brecheen, who are both looking for the Republican nomination for the second district congressional seat vacated by Mark Wayne Mullen. Saturday’s forum will feature congressman Mullen versus former house speaker, T.W. Shannon for the last two years of Senator Jim Inhofe’s seat. Oklahoma Farm Report’s KC Sheperd will moderate the Friday Forum, while Ron Hays will moderate the Saturday Forum.
“We are really looking forward to those forums, and again, let me publicly say I appreciate all four of the candidates for their commitment to come and to participate in these forums,” Kelsey said. “It will be very important.”
Kelsey also touched on policies that will be worked on with input from OCA members during the convention.
There are questions for members about policy regarding drought, Kelsey said, and with the farm bill coming up, there will need to be a discussion on issues such as disaster assistance.
“NCBA summer business meeting is the following week and so I anticipate that being a lively discussion regarding farm bill and etcetera,” Kelsey said.
Kelsey said he has been working with the Vice President of Government Affairs at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Ethan Lane, on specific issues such as McGirt v. Oklahoma.
“Ethan has been very tentative to this and very responsive to this,” Kelsey said. “Oklahoma is not the only state that is affected by McGirt. We are at the dead center of the issue, obviously, but there are large looming questions regarding this issue, and certainly, we have asked NCBA and they have responded to be attentive to this on a national basis.”
This week, the Supreme Court agreed to hear some cases regarding issues such as native education and native placement of adoption.
“Those could have key important understandings regarding how the Federal Government is going to look at native American issues in the Indian country,” Kelsey said. “It is important that NCBA engages on that on behalf of our members, because again, Oklahoma is not the only one. We are going to have some discussion about that at NCBA and see where other states are, compare notes, if you will, and move forward in that sense.”
For more details about the 2022 Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Convention and Trade Show, click here.
Click the LISTEN BAR below to hear more from Ron Hays and Michael Kelsey on the congressional forums planned for the 2022 OCA Annual Convention and Trade Show.
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