Washington Insider: Sonny Perdue's Plate is Full

A sort of cottage industry now aims at sorting out the challenges that await Governor Perdue’s formal arrival at USDA. For example, Bloomberg put together a list of such issues this week, based heavily on statements to the Senate Ag Committee as well as other comments. The group suggests that immigration and trade top the list.However, it is extremely difficult to anticipate these early challenges, especially since many are expected to be intra-administration, Bloomberg says. Certainly, one early problem will be a common one—the budget. The administration proposed a considerable cut in its FY 2018 budget of some 21 percent for its smaller, discretionary programs, especially rural development and foreign food aid programs.In his confirmation hearing, Perdue didn't openly criticize Trump's budget, of course, but said he would work to “get agriculture's share.” He expects to work for producers and consumers to “let this administration and any other people that are making these decisions” know what's important to America, he said. “I hope, in the context of a balanced budget that meets the objectives, that we can get agriculture's share there.”However, this is not a new kind of fight for Perdue. As Georgia governor, he said he faced a declining budget and has had to do “more with less.” He remarked “flippantly” that he “grew a $20 billion budget in Georgia to $16 billion during that 2003 to 2011 period” — a comment that may not have comforted some supporters who hope for better results, even in the current anti-spending environment.He also expects to help confront immigration issues early on, he said, and noted that he would advocate for changes to the H-2A visa program for temporary agricultural workers. Dairy farmers currently can't use the H-2A program because their workforce is year-round, not seasonal, he said. “If you go into dairy barns around the country you are going to find those cows are being milked by immigrant labor, and I do plan to be a voice in the administration to persuade policy makers there over this issue,” Perdue said.Perdue noted that he has already met with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt to discuss regulatory issues and that he planned to launch a cross-agency initiative on evaluating “onerous, prescriptive types of regulations.” He called for “ongoing communications” identified with each of these agencies whether it's FDA, EPA, Labor, OSHA, others, to identify the unintended consequences of regulations before those regulations are promulgated to give us an opportunity to represent USDA, both agriculture producers and consumers,” Perdue said.In general, his comments on regulation were broad, Bloomberg said. He didn't comment on pesticide issues or most conservation policies. He did, however, voice support for government cleanup efforts in the Chesapeake Bay, a program what would be cut under Trump's proposed budget—and, one that some farm groups regard as controversial.Of course, trade is high on Perdue’s priority list. He promised to work with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Trade Representative nominee Robert Lighthizer to promote U.S. products overseas in upcoming trade negotiations. And, he wants to ease financing restrictions on U.S. trade with Cuba. As governor, Purdue led a trade delegation to Cuba in 2010. He now says that while the USDA wouldn't be able to lift current restrictions, he would work to help open access to that market—an approach could run into opposition from others in the administration, Bloombers said since the administration has held varying positions on such a policy.Perdue also commented that USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service is doing “a wonderful job” in stepping up US inspections during Brazil’s current meat inspection scandal. However, Bloomberg notes that several lawmakers have proposed a temporary ban on imports of Brazilian meat, including Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., a member of the Agriculture committee.Perdue also will head USDA as it works to help Congress to reauthorize and implement the 2018 farm bill, a five-year policy vehicle for agriculture programs—especially, the crop subsidy and nutrition programs mandated by the legislation.Perdue went a little further than usual on the farm bill, pledging to work with lawmakers on improving Title 1 provisions like the Price Loss Coverage and Agriculture Risk Coverage programs. And, he says he is willing to consider offering aid to troubled sectors like dairy before Congress wraps up its work on that legislation. “I'm absolutely committed to look for a way to provide immediate and temporary relief, even prior to the ’18 farm bill if it's within the discretion of the secretary,” Perdue said.So, in spite of the numerous pressing ag sector problems, Perdue's nomination path has been long and complicated. He was the last Cabinet pick and the White House took more than six weeks to submit his financial and background check documents to the committee, Bloomberg says.And, it is clear that the Bloomberg “challenge” list is only partial and that as Secretary, Perdue will be dealing with many, many broad issues at a moment when almost all politics are toxic. Certainly, the Department is in need of a strong cabinet officer with political support and experience to deal with problems known and unknown that loom ahead and will need to be watched carefully, Washington Insider believes.