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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 |
3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
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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 | 2018 |
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. | ||||||||
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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 |
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| Signature | Digitally Signed By: John Kran |
Date | 10/19/2018 3:24:51 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 IMM
16. Specific lobbying issues
Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) advocated for legislation that addresses agriculture's 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 creases a usable guest worker program run by the USDA that allows for at-will or contract workers for agriculture. MFB opposes E-Verify legislation unless it moves in tandem with legislation addressing agriculture's labor needs. MFB also advocated for changes in the H-2A guest worker visa program that would make the system more efficient and streamlined and guaranteed workers arrived on time to perform job duties like planting or harvesting crops. MFB has advocated for the AG and Legal Workforce Act, H.R. 6417, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte. The bill would create a new H-2C guest worker visa for agriculture, that would provide up to a three year, renewable visa for both seasonal and year-round agriculture and ag processing jobs.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA)
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 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and has been encouraged by the progress made with the new U.S. Mexico Canada (USMCA) agreement. Our position is that overall, NAFTA has been very good for Michigan agriculture and we should work to protect the positive gains made in this agreement. If there is an opportunity to modernize or improve some areas for agriculture, we also support that - including Sanitary/Phytosanitary requirements, biotechnology, and additional protections for fruit and vegetable growers. MFB also has advocated the importance of the trading relationship with China to the Administration and Congress and the $20 billion positive impact to the ag sector in 2017. We also communicated to USDA about a concern with competition our tart cherry industry is experiencing from the country of Turkey with no barriers to entry.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Agriculture - Dept of (USDA)
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 AGR
16. Specific lobbying issues
Michigan Farm Bureau communicated to both the U.S. House and Senate on the need to complete a 2018 Farm Bill before the current bill expires in October 2018. We support the following principles as a guide in writing the next Farm Bill: 1.) Protecting current Farm Bill program spending; 2.) Maintaining a unified farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together; 3.) Risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs as top funding priorities; 4.) Continuation of Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) with changes to ARC-County to make it more effective and fairer to all farmers; 5.) Developing farm savings accounts as a risk management option for all producers; 6.) Changes to the Dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP) to provide producers more flexibility and better coverage; 7.) Maintaining funding for federal conservation programs which maintain environmental benefits; 8.) Maintain adequate funding for the specialty crop industry with emphasis on fundamental research, marketing and promotions, and pest management programs. MFB supported H.R. 2, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 in the House, and H.R. 2, the Agriculture & Nutrition Act of 2018 in the Senate. We continue to communicate with House and Senate Ag Committee leadership about completing the Farm Bill before the end of the calendar year.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA)
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 TRA
16. Specific lobbying issues
Michigan Farm Bureau advocated for the passage of WRDA, the Water Resources Development Act, H.R. 8. The bill funds inland waterway and transportation projects vital to the shipment of agricultural commodities out of ports and through locks in the Great Lakes and across the country. Farm Bureau policy supports these efforts. We also advocated for the passage of the Senate version, S. 3021, and are very supportive of language that authorizes funding for improvements to the Soo Locks in Michigan.
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
H.R. 6760, Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018., a bill that would make tax reform provisions important to farmers and ranchers a permanent part of the tax code. The temporary provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that help pass-through businesses need to be made permanent as soon as possible. Specifically, Michigan Farm Bureau supports making the following tax provisions permanent:
Reduced Pass-Through Tax Rates and Expanded Brackets: If not extended, higher tax rates will increase taxes on the majority of farm and ranch businesses.
New 20 percent Business Income Deduction (phase-out starts when taxable income exceeds $315,000 for joint filers): Repealing the business income deduction would expand the tax base of pass-through businesses, erasing much of the benefit of tax reform legislation.
Unlimited Bonus Depreciation (Expensing): If not continued, farmers and ranchers will be unable to offset income with deductions for their business expenses. This is especially critical because like-kind exchanges for equipment and livestock are repealed.
Doubled Estate Tax Exemption to $11 million person/$22 million couple: If the exemption is allowed to revert back, more farms and ranches will be subject to estate taxes. As long as the exemption level is temporary, money must be spent on estate tax planning rather than on growing farm and ranch businesses.
Increased Alternative Minimum Tax Threshold for Individuals: Rollback of the higher AMT threshold will cancel out important deductions and credits put in place by tax reform.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
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.
20. Client new address
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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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Principal Place of Business (city and state or country) |
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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:
| Name | Address |
Principal place of business (city and state or country) |
Amount of contribution for lobbying activities | Ownership percentage in client | ||||||||||
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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 |