Rep. Frank Lucas, the chair of the House Ag Committee during the development of the 2014 farm bill, has an optimistic view of the newly-elected House speaker and discussed his perspective on how the timelines for the farm bill and appropriations bills may be influenced by this change in leadership on this week's Agri-Pulse Newsmakers.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was elected to the chamber’s top position Wednesday. Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., spoke highly of Johnson, saying he would be a "real conservative" as speaker, helping to unite the conference after a three-week search for a new leader.
“Johnson was… the vice chair of the Republican conference,” Lucas said. “He’s one of those guys that everybody likes. I think he can pull us together… We’re headed forward again, I think.”
While Johnson doesn’t sit on the Ag committee, Lucas - who rejoined the panel in January - still believes he can be a driving force on things like the farm bill because “he comes from a state that has a diverse set of agriculture.”
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With the previous farm bill now expired, Lucas also discussed the next steps to getting a new bill passed, or even offering an extension to the 2018 legislation. Along with the farm bill, the appropriations bills also need to be passed before the shutdown deadline in several weeks.
"There may have to be another extension for the programs that are not appropriated after November 17, but that's just a part of getting there," Lucas said.
Also on the show this week were Scott Gerlt with the American Soybean Association and Gary Schnitkey with the University of Illinois to discuss trade promotion and a possible farm bill extension.
To see the full conversations with Lucas, Gerlt and Schnitkey, go to Agri-Pulse.com.
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