ap1305b

13b. THE FUTURE OF U.S. AGRICULTURAL POLICY (& How Public Policy Really Works): 

13b. THE FUTURE OF U.S. AGRICULTURAL POLICY (& How Public Policy Really Works) Larry D. Sanders Fall 2005 Dept. of Ag Economics Oklahoma State University

APPENDICES: 

APPENDICES How Public Policy Really Works Alternatives & Consequences Problem Solving Model Community Food Systems & the Changing Culture of Policy and Science

A. How Public Policy Really Works: 

A. How Public Policy Really Works Larry D. Sanders

Public Policy is . . .: 

Public Policy is . . . “Public policy and sausage have a lot in common. You may like the results of both, but you wouldn’t want to see how they’re made.” --Governor Henry Bellmon, paraphrasing Germany’s Bismark in the 19th century

Slide5: 

1. PLANNING Goal -- Political Success 2. PLANT Seeds of Good Intention 3. EARLY GROWTH Sprout in Washington, DC Till in Media Weed in Countryside 4. FERTILIZE Political Bull 6. PEST ATTACK* Lobbyists Foreign Competitors Economists 7. FINAL GROWTH Dreaded Budget Deficit Virus Conservatives question use of tax $$$$$ THE POLITICAL AGRO-ECONOMICS OF POLICY PLANT LIFE $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 5. MOISTURE Sweat/Worry of Targeted Group 8. $$$ AUTHORIZED 9B. $$$ APPROPRIATED 10. IMPLEMENTATION 9A. MONEY DROUGHT Nothing Happens $$$ not released * NOTE: PEST ATTACKS MAY OCCUR AT ANY TIME IN LIFE CYCLE

High School Civics Model: 

High School Civics Model Citizen Concern Representative No Action Action Committee Senate/House President

Pre-1990s Model: 

Pre-1990s Model House/ Senate Committees Farm Organization Leaders Committee Senate/House President (1) (2) Committee Staff Writes Bill

1990s Model—ala Newt: 

1990s Model—ala Newt Farm Organization Leaders Other Interest Groups GOP Leaders Demo Leaders Committee Majority Committee Compromise Senate/ House Conference (compromise) Fail President Veto Sign

Future Model?: 

Future Model? Farm Organizations Other Interest Groups GOP Demos No Compromise Gridlock

Slide10: 

ADVOCATES Problem Recognition Convergence of interest Formulation of Proposal Identification of Authorities Presentation of Proposal Expansion of Support Reduction of Opposition AUTHORITIES DECISION Reduction of Support OPPONENTS Emergence of Opposition Formulation of Counterproposal Identification of Authorities Presentation of Counterproposal Authoritative Consideration Expansion of Opposition IMPLEMENTATION EVALUATION Note: Based on work by Alan Hahn

Power Clusters: 

Power Clusters AGRICULTURE ENVIRONMENT CONSUMERS DEFENSE NORTH WEST SOUTH EAST AGED RURAL URBAN TRADE BUSINESS HEALTH CARE FOREIGN RELATIONS LABOR Etc.

Slide12: 

Agencies Legislative Committees Interest Groups Professionals Volunteers Attentive Public Latent Public Apathetic Public: Interested Public: Active Public: Kings: King-makers: What Makes a Power Cluster Work Influential Core

Policy Making “War Stories”: 

Policy Making “War Stories” OCTOBER, 1999 MULTI-STATE CES GROUP PLANNED $10 MIL. RISK MGMT EDUCATION PROGRAM USDA NO KEY CONGRESSMAN AIDE HOUSE BILL STATE LGU DIRECTORS CONGRESSIONAL REPS USDA AESOP, & ETC KEY CONGRESSIONAL REPS HB 4018 FUNDING $30M. 3/16/00 CONGRESS AG COMMITTEE STAFFERS (SNOWSTORM???} SENATE AG COMMITTEE CHAIR S 2251 BILL CONGRESS CO-SPONSORS CONFERENCE COMMITTEE 4/24/00 APPROVED $5 MIL/YR & USDA CONTROL (STATES LOST CONTROL} MISSED SOME KEY CONGRESS LEADERS PRESIDENT SIGNED HR 2559 6/2000 NOTE: Case study developed by J. Novak, D. Jose, K. Klair, J. Newkirk, K. Stokes, D. Tilmon, COMMODITY ORG LEADERS NOTE: With a few exceptions, main support of key commodity orgs. was to offer no opposition. Don’t underestimate that kind of support. It’s critical to gain no-opposition if you can’t get active support. However, some active support was gained as well. LGU RISK CONTS HB 2559ARPA WITH $0 FOR RISK MGMT PASSED IN SEPT. 1999. $30 M FUNDING ADDED 3/22/00

How to “Do Policy” By the Numbers . . .: 

How to “Do Policy” By the Numbers . . . Plan proposal and strategy to get approval by legislative body. Gain a broad coalition including key players. Gain support of a key staff aide. Walk the halls (Congress or Legislature) and also get support of Executive Branch (USDA or state dept of ag (no mistakes). Expand legislative base of support. Work with key staffers (hope for snowstorm?). Use your own lobbyist and other groups with with lobbyists to follow in your tracks. Get a “champion” in Congress and in the Conference Committee. NOTE: Case study developed by James Novak, et al.

How to “Do Policy” By the Numbers (continued) . . .: 

How to “Do Policy” By the Numbers (continued) . . . Expect that what is authorized is less than what was hoped for. President or Governor signs legislation if they were “brought along”. Plan effort to work with appropriations committees and expect less than what was authorized. Plan to work with the implementing agency. Track implementation and provide feedback. Collect and share success stories with key committee and public and/or suggested improvements in law. “Don’t forget who brung you to the dance.” Begin again at #1 as appropriate. NOTE: Case study developed by James Novak, et al.

Summary & Caveats: 

Summary & Caveats Simple? Yeah, right! Pork, Investment & Rent-seeking There’s the deal, and there’s the real deal. Never under-estimate the power of 20-somethings in Washington. If you think you’re starting to figure it out, you may have to throw out the rule book for the next 4 years. Life is not a sports event. Sooner or later we have to figure out how to get along, cooperate and find common ground. Compromise is essential for a democracy to work.

Remember Pogo: “we are the enemy.”: 

Remember Pogo: “we are the enemy.” What we were trying to do with our legislation . . . was wanton, cheap and greedy—a sluttish thing. This should come as no surprise. All through history mankind has been bullied by scum. Those who lord it over their fellows and toss commands in every direction and would boss the grass in the meadow about which way to bend in the wind are the most depraved kind of prostitutes. . . . Every government is a parliament of whores. The trouble is, in a democracy the whores are us. --P.J. O’Rourke, 1991.

References: 

References Bellmon, Henry, public comments. Flinchbaugh, Barry, Kings and Kingmakers. Hahn, Alan House, Vern, Working With Our Publics, 1987. Novak, James, personal communications with author, 2000. O’Rourke, P.J. Parliament of Whores, 1991. Rauch, Jonathan, Demosclerosis, 1994.

B.Alternatives/Consequences Problem-solving Model: 

B.Alternatives/Consequences Problem-solving Model Define the problem, not the symptoms. Frame the issue constructively, not destructively. Determine a brief range of relevant, realistic alternative solutions. Conduct scientific, objective evaluation of alternatives. Compare the consequences of each alternative to desired goals. Encourage policy makers to act on preferred alternative.