Executive Order 13790: Rural Prosperity

Summary of the Executive Order

The President's Executive Order (EO) 13790 is entitled "Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America".  Just off the top, the "in America" is gratuitous and unnecessary but that's the President for you. The thrust of this EO seems to be twofold, to promote growth of economic activity in rural areas as well as reducing the burden of regulations as it affects rural areas.  This is to be done by a Task Force which replaces a previous Rural Council.

Section 1

This section outlines the policy.  This policy foresees that rural areas will be primarily focused on producing food, fiber, forestry products and renewable fuels.  The last is a nod to the corn-based ethanol industry.  What is not mentioned is any kind of promotion of manufacturing, it seems that manufacturing is viewed by those in power to only be done in urban areas.
This section also lists as aim for regulations such that they do not: encumber agricultural production, harm rural communities, constrain economic growth, hamper job creation, or increase the cost of food for Americans.  Removal of regulations would seemingly do all of the above except preventing harm for rural communities.  So again, we end up with competing priorities as the basis for action and therefore the decisions shall reflect judgment calls of the cabinet members involved in the execution of this EO.

Section 2

This section announces the formation of the "Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity."  This Task Force will be funded by the Department of Agriculture.

Section 3

This section lists the members of the Task Force.  The chair is the Secretary of Agriculture.  In subsection (b), it is noted that the secretaries of departments can designate senior staff to attend on their behalf.

Section 4

This section defines what the Task Force is to do.  Basically this Task Force is to sit down and think what the government can do to make life in rural America better.  The EO provides only a few hints as to what might be done and these include: providing for better educational opportunities including post-secondary studies in agricultural education (see 4(a)(iii)); respecting the unique circumstances of rural businesses and their unique business structures which to me sounds like endorsing the use of illegal immigrants as laborers (see 4(a)(v) and (vii)); eliminate taxes, specifically estate taxes (see 4(a)(viii)); and encouraging people to eat more (see 4(a)(xi)).
A couple of times there is mention that decisions need to be based on the best available science.  I guess the implication is that in the past the Department has relied on only the second-best available science.  Also there is discussion of what was brought up during the Occupation in Oregon with regards to access to water and grazing resources on Federal lands.  The EO does seem to buttress that farmers and ranchers should be able to access Federal lands and frankly I don't necessarily disagree, it is just a question of the terms of that access that are the sticking point.  Free access without responsibilities is simply the equivalent of a handout of the kind the Republicans often complain.
Subsection (b) provides for the input from local, state and tribal governments as well as other stakeholders to have input to the Task Force.
Subsection (c) directs the Task Force to address and co-ordinate their efforts to comply with several other EO's including the ones for Regulation Reduction, Curtailing EPA oversight, and Energy Independence.

Section 5

This section requires the writing of a report within 180 days.  The report is a to define a set of priorities.  I assume that if there are Rulemaking actions that can be initiated without any additional deliberation, these would simply be done, so the report will likely focus more on changes to law and larger Regulatory issues.  The question is whether this report will be made public once written.  A number of reports required by EO's have not shown up as publicly available documents already.  As such, it would have been nice to have this published in the Federal Register when issued.

Section 6

This section revokes an earlier Council which had been set up by the former President.

Section 7

This section has boilerplate statements required in all EO's.

The Effects

This EO really does not do anything.  Perhaps it changes the focus of the group that had been meeting to review rural issues, but that would have changed nonetheless simply due to the change in administration.  The report should be interesting reading and should give some indication as to how twisted the logic is that will be needed to justify changes that will benefit traditional Republican supporters and still appear to benefit poor rural Americans.