Senator-Elect Moran Talks About the Issues That Might Come Up During Lame Duck
Taxes and trade may be addressed, but Moran expects relatively short session.
Compiled by staff
Published: Nov 17, 2010
Before Congressman Jerry Moran, R-Kan., moves over to the Senate he'll cast his final votes as a House member during the post-election session. However he says that after this election he doesn't expect the lame duck session is going to be some major set of accomplishments. Moran says it will be relatively short with a few ongoing government things that need to be done.
However in an interview last week at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention in Kansas City, Moran said lawmakers may address two issues of vital importance to agriculture, taxes and trade.
"Maybe the blenders tax credit will not be at its current rate, but I think it will be something close to that," Moran said. "Extend it for a year and then the battle continues about what ought to happen in the future."
Moran anticipates Congress will opt for a similar short-term fix to the estate tax, most likely what the House passed a year ago, a 45% top rate and $3 million exemption.
On trade Moran says that until the last few days there hasn't been much talk about President Obama's State of the Union pledge to increase exports by 40%, but he sees the possibility of moving forward free trade agreements.
"The Colombia Free Trade Agreement is one that I think has virtually no negatives and all positives, particularly when it comes to agriculture," Moran said. "Many Democrats were reluctant to support it in advance of the election because of labor union opposition, so with the election behind us it seems to me this is an opportune time to put that Colombia Free Trade Agreement in front of Congress."
Looking ahead to January when he'll join the Senate, Moran, a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, says he's asked GOP leaders for permission to serve on the Senate Agriculture panel alongside fellow Kansan Pat Roberts. Current rules prohibit two Republican Senators from the same state being on the same committee.
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Tagged: free trade agreement, farm, labor
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