Arkansas' Lincoln, strong subsidy backer, replaces Iowa's Harkin as chair of Senate Ag Committee

Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., has accepted the chairmanship of the Senate Agriculture Committee, vacated by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who took over the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, vacated by the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy. The promotion of Lincoln, a strong supporter of farm subsidies, has clouded the future of some issues before the committee and brightened that of others, reports Keith Good of FarmPolicy.com. Good has assembled several reports about Lincoln's new role, writing that cap-and-trade legislation appears to have taken a hit with her promotion, but the cotton and rice industries have received a major boost. (Read more)

"Lincoln's opposition to passing a climate bill this year could have a significant impact on the legislation's future in the Senate," Lisa Lerer of Politico.com writes, noting that Lincoln plans to revisit the renewable-fuels standards in the House version. Despite environmentalists' concerns, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Cal., chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, told Lerer the move was good news because of Lincoln's agricultural expertise. Lincoln's voting record on cap-and-trade has been far from consistent, Environment & Energy Daily reports, adding senators and lobbyists said her new role may not significantly alter how the Senate deals with farm concerns in the climate bill.

Cotton and rice, two of the largest industries in Arkansas, stand to benefit from Lincoln's new power as she runs for re-election in 2010. Republicans have targeted Lincoln because of her sagging poll numbers, Rachel Kapochunas of CQPolitics.com reports. Lincoln, the Democratic chair of rural outreach, has been active on other rural issues, speaking at the National Rural Assembly in 2008 and announcing the Democratic rural agenda in March.