Editor’s NOTE: And it begins… the first political letter/column of silly season. Mike Harris, thanks for your letter and thanks for reading.
Looking ahead to our would-be letter writers, whether you are right or left, up or down, a dog or cat person, I’d like to keep letters civil and geared toward making a point rather than name-calling because we all have to work and live together. I don’t need the grief, and neither does anyone else. And just because we receive a letter/column doesn’t mean we’ll publish it.
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From Mike Harris —
One day before the 249th anniversary of the United States of America, the largest investment in American agriculture in a generation was presented before the House of Representatives. It passed on a vote count of 218 – 214. Among the 214 no-voters who took a stand against benefiting Eastern North Carolina agriculture sat Don Davis, who listened to Hakeem Jeffries instead of us.
For a farmer like me, I am puzzled as to why Congressman Davis would vote no, but am not at all surprised—it seems like he does whatever his party bosses instruct him to do when he’s in D.C. When Don Davis is campaigning, he makes a lot of great statements most farmers like me would agree with, but when Congressman Davis is in D.C., his votes say otherwise.
What’s puzzling is why Don Davis, who says on his campaign website that he is working to “support farmers and protect family farms,” would vote against Death Tax relief. For family farms like mine, passing down the land that my family has worked for generations, so that our children and theirs can continue that legacy means everything. Our family farm has thankfully lasted decades because of a lot of blood, sweat, and grit, but Don Davis doesn’t seem to care.
What’s puzzling is why Don Davis voted against 100% immediate expensing on new equipment. On Don’s campaign website, he claims to be working to “address rising input costs” for farmers. Like many other farmers in eastern North Carolina, I have to buy big, expensive equipment. The One Big Beautiful Bill nearly doubled the limit for what I can write-off on taxes to buy new equipment when I purchase it, instead of depreciating it over multiple years. All of that to say, I don’t have to pay the federal government more money to keep my farm operating. I don’t know why campaigning Don Davis said one thing and Congressman Davis voted against that.
What’s puzzling is why Congressman Davis would vote against the increase in reference prices for crop coverage, when campaigning Don Davis says “Our rural communities deserve the tools they need to thrive.” For those who don’t farm: let’s say the market tanks, and the price of soybeans dips down to $9 a bushel. Don Davis’s vote said I shouldn’t be covered, and I should lose money if the market goes awry. This reference price hadn’t been updated since President Trump’s first term and Biden’s inflation made the reference prices less than acceptable. Republicans in Congress said otherwise, and voted to increase the coverage for soybeans by nearly 20%. Why would Congressman Davis vote against that?
What’s puzzling is why Congressman Davis would vote against enhanced crop insurance, when campaigning Don Davis says he supports farmers. The premium subsidy rate for Supplemental Coverage Option—how much the government assists farmers for high crop insurance payments—was at 65%. Now, thanks to House Republicans and President Trump, it leaped to 80% coverage. In simple terms, this means that farmers like me don’t have to stress about high insurance payments, and can focus more of their time on feeding North Carolina. I don’t know why Congressman Davis would vote against that.
Campaigning Don Davis says ‘Our rural communities deserve the tools they need to thrive.” I agree, I just wish Congressman Davis would too. When the most beneficial agricultural bill in a generation crossed Congressman Davis’ desk, he did what Hakeem Jefferies and Nancy Pelosi instructed him to do: get in line and don’t say a peep.
We need a leader like Laurie Buckhout who will stick to her word–something that you don’t find in politicians nowadays. Laurie grew up on a farm and understands the risks that farmers face in an industry built to feed America and North Carolina’s future. Campaigning Don Davis can sure do a lot of photo ops, and say things that sound good, but you can’t trust his word as far as you can throw him. Laurie Buckhout is the leader we need because she will put farmers first and keep her word.
Mike Harris, Roper, NC
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