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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
Address1 | 7373 West Saginaw Highway |
Address2 | P.O. Box 30960 |
City | Lansing |
State | MI |
Zip Code | 48909 |
Country | USA |
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5. Senate ID# 40017133-48
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6. House ID# 398870000
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TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2015 |
Q1 (1/1 - 3/31) | Q2 (4/1 - 6/30) | Q3 (7/1 - 9/30) | Q4 (10/1 - 12/31) |
9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report
10. Check if this is a Termination Report | Termination Date |
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11. No Lobbying Issue Activity |
INCOME OR EXPENSES - YOU MUST complete either Line 12 or Line 13 | |||||||||
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12. Lobbying | 13. Organizations | ||||||||
INCOME relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period was: | EXPENSE relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period were: | ||||||||
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Provide a good faith estimate, rounded to the nearest $10,000, of all lobbying related income for the client (including all payments to the registrant by any other entity for lobbying activities on behalf of the client). | 14. REPORTING Check box to indicate expense accounting method. See instructions for description of options. | ||||||||
Method A.
Reporting amounts using LDA definitions only
Method B. Reporting amounts under section 6033(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code Method C. Reporting amounts under section 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code |
Signature | Digitally Signed By: John Kran |
Date | 4/18/2015 10:02:50 PM |
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code ANI
16. Specific lobbying issues
Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) supported a letter lead by Representatives Dan Benishek and Collin Peterson to the Fish and Wildlife Service on the proposed threatened listing of the Northern Long-Eared Bat. The letter asked for additional public meetings and extending the comment period for the proposal. MFB also asked the Michigan U.S. House members to cosign the letter.
Additionally, Michigan Farm Bureau supported co-sponsorship of H.R. 884 - a bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to reissue final rules relating to listing of the gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes and Wyoming under the Endangered Species Act, and H.R. 843 the Western Great Lakes Wolf Management Act of 2015. Farm Bureau policy supports: legislation that would direct the Secretary of the Interior to reissue the final rule that was published on December 28, 2011 (76 Fed. Reg. 81666 et seq) delisting the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the gray wolf, without regard to any other provision or statute or regulation that applies to the issuance of such rule and not subject to judicial review.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
John |
Kran |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code BUD
16. Specific lobbying issues
Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) communicated with the House and Senate during the FY2016 budget resolution process - H.Con.Res. 27 and S.Con.Res. 11. Mainly, Farm Bureau urged the House and Senate not to make cuts to areas under the jurisdiction of the Agriculture Committees, especially Farm Bill programs. Additionally, Farm Bureau supported two amendments to the Senate Budget Resolution, one offered by Senator Thune to repeal the Estate Tax and another by Senator Barrasso #347 to Limit EPA funding to adopt a broad regulatory definition of Waters of the U.S.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
John |
Kran |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code CAW
16. Specific lobbying issues
Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) continues to express concerns with the EPAs efforts to expand the definition of Waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act. MFB supported H.R. 5078 Waters of the US Regulatory Overreach Protection Act in the 113th Congress. The bill prohibits the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers from developing, finalizing, adopting, administering, applying, or enforcing the Administrations proposed WOTUS rule. MFB is calling for the complete withdrawal of the rule, Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0880. MFB has met with the House and Senate. MFB also supported the Sen. Barrasso Amendment #347 that limits EPAs funding to adopt a broad regulatory definition of Waters of the U.S. The provision would amend the Senate budget resolution, S. Con. Res. 11, and would exclude from Clean Water Act jurisdiction groundwater, storm water, irrigation systems, storm water systems, wastewater systems, isolated ponds, ditches and puddles.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
John |
Kran |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code IMM
16. Specific lobbying issues
Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) advocated for legislation that addresses agricultures long and short-term labor needs. Immigration reform would include an adjustment of status for those currently undocumented that are working in agriculture, allowing them to work in agriculture, and secondly creates a usable guest worker visa program run by the USDA that allows for at-will or contract workers for agriculture. MFB opposes H.R. 1147 the Legal Workforce Act, a bill to require mandatory E-Verify, unless the legislation were to move in tandem with legislation addressing agricultures labor needs. MFB supported signing a letter by Rep. Dan Newhouse R-WA which asked that no e-verify legislation come before the House unless it moved with ag labor legislation.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
John |
Kran |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code TAX
16. Specific lobbying issues
Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) advocated for tax reform that focuses on passing and making permanent tax extenders that expired at the end of 2014 and other business tax provisions, including: Section 179, Bonus Depreciation, Capital Gains Taxes and Stepped-Up Basis, Estate Taxes, Health Insurance Tax (HIT), Marketplace Fairness Act (sales tax), and Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT). MFB supported:
H.R. 641, the Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2015, to make permanent the enhanced tax deduction for donated conservation easements; H.R. 644 to permanently extend and expand the charitable deduction for donated food; H.R. 636, Americas Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015, to permanently set the IRC Section 179 small business expensing maximum limit at $500,000. MFB also supported S. 860, the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015, H.R. 1105, Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015, and an amendment by Senator Thune to repeal the estate tax that was offered as an amendment to the Senate FY2016 budget resolution.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
John |
Kran |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code TRD
16. Specific lobbying issues
Michigan Farm Bureau supports the concept of Trade Promotion Authority and free trade agreement including: Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), the U.S.-E.U. Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), and Cuba. MFB has not taken positions on any pieces of legislation at this time but has been advocating for Congress to move forward on the following trade agreements and authority for the administration. FB Policy for trade negotiations includes as objectives: Include all agricultural products and policies in the negotiations; Elimination of non-tariff trade barriers; Ensure market access for biotechnology products; Address issues concerning import sensitive products; Opposition to the use of geographic indicators.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
John |
Kran |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.
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21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)
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22. New General description of client’s business or activities
LOBBYIST UPDATE
23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client
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ISSUE UPDATE
24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains
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AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)
Internet Address:
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26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client
1 | 2 | 3 |
FOREIGN ENTITIES
27. Add the following foreign entities:
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28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization
1 | 3 | 5 |
2 | 4 | 6 |