02/09/05 Budget reaction; Cuba legislation

Continued reactions from various lawmakers and analysts over the President's proposed Fiscal Year 2006 budget depends on what part of the budget is being studied, and how it affects the specific sector or the Northwest region as a whole. For example, several ag groups are not jumping on board with the President's plan, in part due to proposed cuts in Farm Bill crop payment programs and other subsidy payment plans. And several Northwest lawmakers are among those opposed to plans to change the way Bonneville Power Administration charges ratepayers. Under the President's proposal, B.P.A. would switch from rates based on the cost of producing electricity to a market rate system. However, there were some praises from the Northwest Congressional delegation. Oregon Representative Greg Walden reacted positively to the budget's continued support of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act and Klamath Basin irrigation and water management programs. And Oregon Senator Gordon Smith applauded the President's continued financial commitment to deepen the Columbia River channel to improve cargo transport. U.S. Senator Larry Craig of Idaho is among a group of Senators holding a press conference this afternoon to introduce legislation designed to ease a number of restrictions on agricultural trade with Cuba. Craig, you might remember, was among the same group of lawmakers who criticized proposed Treasury Department regulations that would disrupt current ag sales from the U.S. to Cuba. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. ALLEN: Seems like a no brainer. If we want our meat safe , track it and label it. A natural win for both cattlemen and the consumer who will readily support the American rancher. But this really hasn't been done until now, but leave it to West to do it the best. Revolutionizing the coffee culture is small potatoes compared to how Western livestock producers could change the meat industry with their Northwest Pilot program. Despite the digging in of some pretty big bureaucratic heels over country of origin labeling, livestock producers in seven Western states & Washington ,Oregon, Idaho, California, Utah , Nevada and Hawai & went ahead and initiated their own pilot program to track livestock from birth to death using bar codes, ear tags, radio frequency and other methods. The Northwest Pilot Program, plans to track at least 75 percent of those enrolled and that also will include dairy and sheep over the next three to four years. Our Western livestock producers have taken this bull by the horns and should be applauded for implementing change in the livestock industry. I'm Susan Allen. This has been "Food Forethought".