By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Kansas First District Congressman Tracey Mann grew up in the small town of Quinter and now lives in Salina.
The Republican lawmaker sees a lot of "Kansas common sense" in the rules package passed by the new U.S. House of Representatives membership which will govern how the body operates for the next two years.
"It's not rocket science," Mann told the audience at Saturday's Hays Chamber legislative coffee at the Hays Public Library.
Mann was one of the featured speakers at the event, joined by state Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, and state Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra.
"I think the majority of Kansans will agree with these things, things like no more proxy voting, no more multi-subject bills. The days of bills covering 10-20 topics are over, at least for the next two years," Mann said.
The 72-hour rule now requires there be at least 72 hours notice before a bill is voted on, "which means no more dropping a 3,000 page bill at 3 in the morning - which is literally what happened - and then we had to vote on it that afternoon. I voted no. If you're not able to read a bill, you can't expect people to vote for it."
The new rules also require a return of regular order. The 12 departments of the federal government, i.e., Department of Agriculture, Department of Homeland Security, Pentagon, etc., must submit their budgets separately, be scrutinized, and then passed out individually, instead of lumped together in one large omnibus bill.
Any budget passed out of the House must also be balanced.
"The rules changes are going to be pretty significant," Mann said.
The congressman also outlined the three areas he deems as ongoing threats to the United States - the record $32 trillion federal debt, China, and the country's drift away from "basic western Kansas values."
The current U.S. farm bill will expire Sept. 30. Mann, who comes from a northwest Kansas farm family and now serves on the House agriculture committee, said crop insurance will be his top priority.
"In our district we are low moisture, high risk agriculture. We've gotta have tools in place to help manage that risk. I think crop insurance is a very effective public/private partnership and the most cost-effective way to deliver a constant food supply."
According to Mann, the Big First District of Kansas generates the third largest ag economy among the 435 Congressional districts nationwide.
In answer to an audience member's question, he said there may not be any earmarks, formally known as Congressionally-directed spending, in the new five-year farm bill.
"There's different opinions on earmarks. Last Congress, I did not support earmarks. The majority of Republicans did not support earmarks. Now that they're coming back around, there's a lot of discussion about what the process out to be. ... Typically, the earmarks are on the appropriations bills."
Both Mann and Rahjes have co-sponsored legislation opposing Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland.
"China owns farmland next to our military bases (in North Dakota). I've signed onto legislation to do away with that. I know the state is doing that as well," Mann said with a nod to Rahjes.
Another audience member asked about the viral avian flu outbreak which necessitated the culling of poultry flocks and drove up retail egg prices.
"Part of this will be in the farm bill, really looking at food safety and food security. ... I would be supportive of a vaccine bank for the poultry, beef and swine industries."
Mann also addressed the recent sale of U.S. oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China.
"It should only be used for emergencies, not for political purposes, not to take the edge off of prices."
A resolution has already passed on the House side that would prevent any presidential administration from depleting the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and selling the oil overseas. The bill is now in the Senate.
"It had some bipartisan support," Mann said. "I'm optimistic it will get passed on the Senate side and we'll see what the president does with it."