Agricultural News
Cong. Frank Lucas Concerned About The Direction of Many of The Biden Administration Proposals
Wed, 02 Jun 2021 11:52:35 CDT
U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) covers the big Third Congressional District of Oklahoma, an area heavily dependent on energy and agriculture, two industries that could be greatly impacted by proposals from the Biden administration.
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays interviewed Lucas this week about a number of topics, starting first with President Biden's visit to Tulsa.
I appreciate him participating in the Tulsa race massacre anniversary, Lucas said.
It's a loss for the country and society when people are not able, because of past and present actions, to fulfill to the best of their abilities, Lucas said.
The President's budget proposal is making headlines and Lucas is concerned about the large amount.
They want to spend a huge amount of money, he said.
In the last year and a half, the national debt has gone from $20 trillion to the neighborhood of $28 trillion, Lucas said.
Now is not the time to spend like there will never be a day to reckon with, he said.
The Oklahoma Congressman noted Democrats are using the budget reconciliation act to increase spending rather than cut spending as the 1974 act was intended.
On another issue, Lucas said the current administration has resurfaced the endangered species act and wants to list the prairie chicken as threatened or endangered.
We dealt with this issue in previous administrations and thought we had put it to rest as there were efforts on the state level to create an enhanced prairie chicken habitat, Lucas said.
Now, the Biden Administration has decided to wipe that away, Lucas said.
This is a real threat to how we do business in Oklahoma, he said.
I've argued for a long time if you want to address prairie chicken habitat correctly, go to states where there are substantial tracks of land and create real habitat zones, Lucas said.
Lucas said he supports continued investigations by the DOJ and USDA into packer concentrations.
I just need for them to complete their work so we can take it to the next step, Lucas said.
They have to be thorough, and I appreciate that, but this has to happen sooner than later, he said.
The President's budget proposal also includes changes in the tax laws that could impact agriculture.
Part of the discussion that's going on now involves raising the corporate tax rate from 21 to 28 percent, he said.
Lucas also said the individual income tax rate could increase and there is some discussion of increasing the capital gains tax rate from 23.8 percent to 43.4 percent.
We have worked hard to get away from the death tax and now the administration wants to use the tax code to set their goals.
I find that offensive and contrary to the spirit of how we have done things in the past 20 years, Lucas said.
The Oklahoma rancher and congressional leader added there is discussion of "climate smart" agriculture.
The administration wants to help us but does this ultimately mean in the way that they determine is in our best interest, Lucas stated.
That worries me a lot, he said.
Lucas added he is confident there will be more conservation funding in such things as flood control dams in Oklahoma.
You can click on the listen bar below to hear more of Ron's interview with Cong. Lucas.
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