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Candidates' Positions and Views |
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for:
US Congress District 13, North Carolina |
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May 6, 2008 North Carolina Democratic Primary Election |
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Candidates positions and views on other Issues where information is available: |
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The report below lists the candidate responses to Food & Agriculture issue questions. The responses were provided by Derald Hafner and Ralph Bradley "Brad" Miller or were obtained from their websites. The candidates select the issues and questions for which they want to provide a response. The first link is a report of all the issues and questions made available to the candidates. Many issues and questions had no responses - links are only provided where we have information. If there are many candidates for this office, you may have to scroll down to compare all responses. |
| Food & Agriculture |
Derald Hafner - D
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Ralph Bradley "Brad" Miller - D
Website
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| Agriculture, a General Statement |
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I joined tobacco growers and quota holders in a sigh of relief when Congress finally passed a tobacco buyout.
The buyout bill that Congress passed was not all that we had hoped for, but it certainly was better than nothing. Quota holders will receive $7 per pound and growers will receive $3 per pound based upon the 2002 quota. The buyout will be paid in ten equal annual payments, with the first payment probably not before late 2005. Quota holders and growers cannot get a lump sum from the government. They can, however, assign their payments to a financial institution in exchange for a lump sum payment by the financial institution. (Be careful.) The bill provides for no production control or price support after the buyout, which will be a drastic change in the way farmers have grown and sold tobacco since the Great Depression.
There are many details that still need to be worked out, most obviously the effect on Phase II payments. There apparently is no question that the buyout eliminates Phase II obligations by the tobacco companies, but there is a big question when the Phase II obligations are eliminated. The tobacco companies have filed a lawsuit in North Carolina state court to recover payments from 2004. They argue when Congress passed the buyout this year it eliminated their obligation.
I joined other North Carolina Members of Congress in writing to Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman to ask that the Department clarify that the first payments under the buyout will not likely occur until late next year. There is a hearing on December 20th in Greensboro that will determine the validity of the tobacco companies' lawsuit and the result will likely be appealed. I am following this issue closely.
Source: Candidate Website (10/04/2008) |
| These are available issue topics for which there were no responses. |
| Food, a General Statement |
| Agriculture Reforms |
| Genetically Engineered Food |
| Food and Drug Administration (FDA) |
| Protecting Food Safety |
| Country of Origin Labeling |
| Department of Agriculture |
| Family Farm |
| Farm Bill |
| Farm Subsidies |
| Farmer Owned Biofuel Refineries |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) Closings |
| Farm Crop Supports |
| Farm Corporation Subsidies |
| Other Farm Assistance |