John Thune

We have a long ways to go to get Russia up to the standards they need to meet.

I want to make sure that we get a farm bill put in place that ensures we have a good economic safety net.

Representing South Dakota, agriculture is our number one industry, so I take my position on this Committee very seriously.

I have worked with some of my colleagues on this Committee to develop a program that sort of fits within those parameters I mentioned that is more timely delivered and easier to administer.

I think that is something that people across this country, particularly in farm country, get and want to make sure that we are doing our part.

In order for agriculture to maintain its current role as one of the few shining stars in our economy, our Committee has a tremendous responsibility to create agricultural policy that not only provides an adequate safety net but that also…

If the Senator from Kansas will yield quickly in closing on one point, is the Senator aware of any group that was consulted on this? Were there any farm organizations that were brought into this or had any input into this? As the Senator…

The full potential yet to be seen for rural America to contribute to our Nation's energy independence is going to be really important.

We have an epidemic problem with the pine beetle in the Black Hills.

The number one priority of South Dakotans in the farm bill is a strong Crop Insurance Program.

We really need a voice of reason, so thank you.

If we are serious about tax reform, that the administration ought to put forward a plan that would actually accomplish tax reform that would allow us to move forward.

Taxing qualified dividends at the same low rate as capital gains for all taxpayers reduces the tax bias against equity investment and promotes a more efficient allocation of capital.

I think that it has been said here earlier, but I think the proposals in the budget this year actually sort of take us backwards when it comes to the issue of tax reform.

With that, I yield back the remainder of my time, and I suggest the absence of a quorum. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Tax reform is something that everybody agrees needs to be done to get the economy growing again.

I think you are going to hear him talk about fairness, which to us is usually code for class warfare, which is code for tax increases.

I think this is largely a campaign oriented speech. I think the president is going to talk a lot about things he wants to talk about on the campaign this year. It is a political year after all.

The number one issue for Americans is jobs and the economy.

What we've seen is the Obama record has been a failed one for the American workers.

I think that the lenders are in a much better position.

I think that sometimes farm bill programs get capitalized in the land prices.

Clearly what has happened here has demonstrated that whatever--there are things that clearly can fall through the cracks.

Farming is a risky business, and hedging is designed to help farmers and producers manage that risk

I think the story here, Madam Chairwoman, is to figure out what went wrong and to figure out how we fix it so it does not happen again.