Overtime
If you are confused by the ongoing health care reform debate in Congress, you are not alone. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson told me last week that he is having trouble understanding the various health care proposals too. He also said he hadn’t seen a proposal yet he fully supported but felt a bill would be passed this year. I realize reform is needed but have my doubts that whatever is passed will be a significant improvement and seriously question claims that it will not be more expensive than what we have now. I’ve said throughout this debate that I would be more inclined to support health care reform if Congress agreed to give up their health care plan and enroll in whatever system they pass for the rest of us. At least of couple of members of Congress are proposing their colleagues do just that. Louisiana Congressman John Fleming, a Democrat, and Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn, a Republican, are both physicians and are pushing amendments requiring members of Congress to use whatever health care plan they eventually pass. I support and commend their efforts but doubt if they will be successful. Either allow all of us to have the same health care plan our political leaders enjoy or require them to have the same one they propose for us. If whatever they pass is good enough for us then it should be good enough for them!
The ripple effect of a late and getting later harvest are starting to be felt. The combination of late planting and now a wet fall is not only keeping farmers from harvesting but also in some cases from planting wheat and getting fall field work done. That of course takes away some fall business for those in the crop input business and will put a lot of pressure on everyone next spring trying to catch up.