WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2013 – Sen.
Thad Cochran, R-Miss., asserted his seniority today and was selected to take
over as ranking GOP member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition and Forestry.
The
current ranking member, Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., told Agri-Pulse that Sen.
Cochran “has his full support” and that "seniority is a well-respected and
historic privilege in the U.S. Senate."
Cochran
received the unanimous support of Republican committee members. Next, the
full Senate Republican Conference must approve the selection in the coming
weeks.
For weeks, rumors have circulated
that Cochran would challenge Roberts for the top slot, forcing a potential vote
in committee. If Roberts won that vote, as expected, Cochran could take the
challenge to the full GOP caucus where he would likely prevail.
Cochran said, in a statement, that
he was pleased with the opportunity to serve as ranking member.
“I will
use the experiences I’ve gained in serving on the committee since 1979 to help
quickly advance a new farm bill that will meet the needs of our country’s
farmers, small businesses, and those who rely on the nutrition programs under
the committee’s jurisdiction,” Cochran said. “I look forward to working with
[Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.]”
Cochran
previously served as committee chairman from 2003 to 2005. He plans to continue
to serve on the Senate Rules Committee.
Roberts
said he will “continue to remain as a strong champion for agriculture” and will
retain his Senate Finance Committee seat. "As a senior member of this committee, I am
able to affect trade policy, especially ag trade, tax reform, and rural health
care."
Roberts
said this action also “allows me to assert my seniority as the ranking member of
the Rules Committee. This committee will become increasingly important as I
expect to play a very vigorous role in defense of minority rights, which are
under attack by the Democrat Majority Leader, as well as top line issues like
campaign finance reform and federal election law."
“My
message to Kansas farmers and ranchers is that I will continue to be your voice
and your champion at every turn," Roberts emphasized.
Kansans
had also enjoyed having a member on the
House Agriculture Committee; however, Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, recently removed
Kansas Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., from that post.
Asked
whether or not the dynamics of writing a new farm bill will change with Cochran
leading GOP members on the committee, Roberts insisted he will still have
leverage and he cited the recent decision to extend the current farm bill as an
example. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Stabenow, along with House
Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Democrat Collin Peterson
had proposed a farm bill extension package last weekend that included disaster
assistance, dairy reforms and a reduction in direct payments to pay for the
changes.
“You
had three people who wanted to move that kind of bill and one who didn’t,”
Roberts said of his view on the modified extension package.
Ultimately,
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who brokered the final tax and extension package
with Vice President Joe Biden, cited concerns about raising a budget point of
order and went with a straight farm bill extension instead – ignoring the
committee chairmen’s wishes.
But
Roberts, who has adamantly opposed some of the target price provisions proposed
in the House Agriculture Committee’s version of the 2012 farm bill, will now be
replaced by a southerner who is much more likely to go along with Chairman
Lucas and Ranking member Collin Peterson on the commodity title.
Farm
organizations were just starting to react to the change in GOP leadership on
the committee – even though it had been widely rumored for weeks.
“The
Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau thanks Senator Pat Roberts for his
outstanding service as ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee in
the 112th Congress and
looks forward to working with Senator Thad Cochran to preserve and protect crop
insurance as he assumes the post in this new Congress,” noted Michael Torrey,
Executive Vice President, Michael Torrey Associates.
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