What about the rural folks? That’s what three Missouri members of Congress are asking President Obama.
The Congressional Rural Caucus, a bi-partisan group in Washington, is urging the President to create a White House Office of Rural Policy. Obama has already done that for Urban Policy, and Congressman Ike Skelton (D-Lexington) says the oversight needs to be corrected.
Skelton is former chairman of the rural caucus. He says 40 other members of Congress also signed the letter to Obama this week.
In the letter, the caucus explains that broad policy measures can have severe ramifications in rural areas… such as a recent proposal that would reapportion the federal gas tax based on miles driven rather than gallons of fuel consumed. The Rural Caucus says that would have been devastating to commuting rural families’ budgets and lauded Obama for rejecting the proposal.
Along with Skelton, Congressman Sam Graves and Joanne Emerson signed the letter to Obama, supporting the Rural Caucus’ request.