Politics breed strange, sometimes bizarre, bedfellows.NAIS is a concept abhorred by small family farmers, about as conservative a group of people as you can find on the American political scene.Throwing a’ NAIS-ty’ curve ball past Tom Vilsack, though, was Rosa DeLauro, a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Connecticut's 3rd congressional district.
Based in New Haven, the district includes most of that city's suburbs, an area with a large conservative base but that has returned her to the House every year since 1991, the last time with over 75% of the vote. DeLauro votes with the left-leaning caucus of her party in most instances, and has been called a "Far-left Democrat" by GovTrack.org's analysis of bill sponsorship.
Congresswoman DeLauro, acting in her role as chairwoman of the House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, will probably be hailed as a hero by people in the most conservative sections of the most conservative farm states, though.Her committee’s mark up the subcommittee’s fiscal year 2010 bill with proposed funding of $20.4 billion – $2 billion above fiscal year 2009 – contained a short section that will delight the thousand or so people who attended USDA Secretary Vilsack’s NAIS listening sessions wearing those red NO NAIS badges.Here it is, taken from a press release on her web site:
“The bill eliminates funding for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). After receiving $142 million in funding since fiscal year 2004, APHIS has yet to put into operation an effective system that would provide needed animal health and livestock market benefits. USDA is currently conducting a public listening tour around the country for several months to hear from stakeholders. Until USDA finishes its listening sessions and provides details as to how it will implement an effective ID system, continued investments into the current NAIS are unwarranted.”
It’s important to note that her comment does not mean NAIS is dead and gone.We’re talking about Washington politics and there is a lot of time for negotiating, renegotiating, wheeling and dealing.Those disappointed pro-NAIS forces will hitch up their pants and get to work on saving the program.
What’s happened, I think, is this ball game just went into extra innings.It looked like NAIS had more than enough runs to win an inning or two ago.Vilsack’s listening sessions, though, let a lot of No NAIS runs cross the plate in the bottom of the ninth and DeLauro, one of the country’s most astute politicians, knew the score before Vilsack could figure it out.
Those of us in Kansas City that have watched our Royals fall from first to worst in just a few short weeks, know the shock felt by NAIS backers.The game is still afoot, though.Unlike the Royals, the people backing an animal ID system have the talent and money to regain the lead.