Free Market Carnivore's Blog

   This is the first post in our new blog designed to keep those folks engaged in the food production chain abreast of the latest developments in business economics and politics that affect animal agriculture.   AFF has published well over 200 issues of the “AFF Sentinel,” an e-mail newsletter of roughly 750 words/issue.  We will continue the Sentinel,  but be posting here shorter, more timely developments in the legislative, economic or news arena.  You can sign up at right to receive a notice anytime we post breaking news or opinion to this blog.

There are two things common to this administration and this Congress:  the unpredictability of some of the actions and the sheer volume of legislation and regulation on the table.  The first tendency is meant to keep the minority party off-balance and get legislation and rules considered when it is most advantageous to the majority party.  The second tendency is to create so much volume that the opposition — be it a political party or mere voters and industries — has a hard time keeping up with the new moves meant to increase government power and taxing authority.   Beyond that, there is another layer of unpredictability.  That is the resurrection of bills and issues thought dead and non-revivable.  The health care bill is only the most notable example.

     This week, with no advance warning, certain constituencies were alerted Monday that Death Tax legislation — of uncertain parentage and with no numbers — was going to be considered sometime this week.  Colin Woodall of NCBA’s Washington office briefed the Colorado Cattlemen during the first session of their annual convention.  Rep. John Salazar, clearly excited that compromise legislation that would exempt agricultural land from the death tax as long as the heirs kept the land in ag production, gave a short update at Monday’s noon luncheon.  We are very close to finally getting this done, Salazar said.  The government would actually be encouraging families to stay in production agriculture.

   By Wednesday, the heat was off and the Death Tax was off the front burner.  We’ll keep you posted.