Weekly Column

Rural America and Immigration Reform

By John Crabtree on July 8, 2013 - 12:00am

The impact of immigration reform on rural America has not been at the forefront of the debate in Washington, D.C.

The Center for Rural Affairs urges passage of comprehensive federal legislation to reform America’s fundamentally broken immigration policy. It is crucial that Congress understands that immigration reform is vitally important to rural America.

Poll Finds Rural Voters Support Investment in Small Business, Education

By John Crabtree on June 26, 2013 - 12:00am

Most rural Americans believe the small-town way of life is worth fighting for and support government action to strengthen rural communities.

A poll of rural voters, conducted by the nationally respected bipartisan polling team of Celinda Lake of Lake Research and Ed Goeas of The Tarrance Group, found that rural voters think for themselves and don’t neatly fit an ideological stereotype.

Farm Bill Debate Turns to House of Representatives

By John Crabtree on June 18, 2013 - 2:23pm

On June 10, the US Senate passed their version of the 2013 Farm Bill. And the House of Representatives has taken up the Farm Bill this week.

We applaud the Senate for passing a Farm Bill that closes the gaping loopholes that have made a mockery of farm program payment limitations. And we thank Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) for their tireless advocacy for reducing the subsidies that mega-farms use to drive family farmers out of business.

Transmission and Your Business

By Johnathan Hladik on June 17, 2013 - 12:00am

When something as big as a new transmission line is being built in your area, you won’t be blamed for asking a few good questions.  Where will the line be located? Do I have any say in the process? How will this project improve my community?

Fortunately, the Center for Rural Affairs understands your concerns. Clean Line does too. That’s why they’re holding a round of open houses to introduce the Grain Belt Express.

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To view weekly columns published prior to February 2013, please visit http://www.cfra.org/news_media/weekly