Ag Policy Blog
Cantor Loses Primary; WOTUS Rule Delayed
I fired up the laptop to post a blog item on stuff like the EPA waters of the U.S. rule ask the Spurs took a nice lead early in the NBA Finals.
Then, -- Wow! House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his Virginia Republican primary to a tea party-backed economic professor named David Brat. As the New York Times wrote, Cantor "soundly" lost to Brat 55.5% to 44.5%.
Nobody can immediately recall a party leader losing in a primary. House Speaker Tom Foley, a Democrat, got swept out in 1994 by a little-known Republican. That's the closest loss that comes to mind.
Brat reportedly hammered Cantor on immigration. Cantor was soft on immigration because he wasn't absolutely opposed to doing anything. The immediate reaction is that immigration reform died with Cantor's loss because every Republican just saw how toxic the issue can be.
Brat also proved that an underfunded candidate can still take down a giant even in this era of dark money and unlimited contributions.
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Meanwhile, the Spurs were hammering the Heat in the first half. The Heat, though, were coming back.
EPA Extends Comment Period on Waters of the U.S.
The American Farm Bureau Federation announced EPA had extended the comment period for the proposed waters of the U.S. rule until Oct. 20. Farm Bureau declared that allowed more time for opponents to defeat the rule.
The national Milk Producers Federation also thanked EPA for extending the comment period as well.
EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers issued the proposal earlier this to try to redefine or clarify what a navigable waterway mean. In doing so, EPA opened a Pandora's Box because the rule goes upstream from those navigable waters "that could have a significant impact on the biological, chemical or physical integrity of navigable waters." That is what is guiding the development of the proposal.
The House transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment will hold a hearing Wednesday morning looking at issues involving the Waters of the United States rule. EPA and Army Corps of Engineers officials are scheduled to testify, as well as American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman.
Information on the hearing can be found at http://dld.bz/…
Chris Clayton can be reached at chris.clayton@dtn.com
Follow him on Twitter @ChrisClaytonDTN
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