Democrat Pam Gulleson Has Some Interesting Ties To The Crop Insurance Industry

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Written By:
Rob Port

Jul 17, 2012
2:37pm

Since the Fargo Forum has us on the issue of political influence, attacking with “reporting” and an editorial today contributions made by oil industry employees to Republicans, let’s take a look at why liberal House candidate Pam Gulleson is probably such a cheer leader for the farm bill and crop insurance specifically.

In a press release on her website Gulleson describes crop insurance as “critical.”

Speaking as a lifelong farmer and rancher from southeastern North Dakota, Gulleson called crop insurance a critical component to the farm bill.

“It’s the ability to stem the tide against disaster and low prices; that’s the key parts,” Gulleson said.

Gulleson has been an outspoken supporter of farm policy throughout her campaign. She repeated her message of urgency Wednesday that Congress should pass the next farm bill before the September deadline.

I’m sure Gulleson does believe crop insurance is “critical,” since her son Lance Gulleson was just honored earlier this year by the North Dakota Farmer’s Union as a “Million Dollar Producer” for crop insurance sales as a Farmer’s Union agent.

Lance Gulleson of Lisbon took highest honors as a Million Dollar Producer and was presented with a ring to commemorate this accomplishment. He is a strong supporter of his community and donates time and financial support to many organizations. He and his wife, Natalie, were married in 2011 and he has been an agent since 2006. He was also recognized for five years of service.

By the way, Pam Gulleson herself was appointed, after leaving former Senator Byron Dorgan’s staff, to staff executive officer and advisor to the President of the North Dakota Farmer’s Union, something mentioned in her Wikipedia page but apparently scrubbed from the NDFU website.

So before running for the House Gulleson worked for an organization that sells crop insurance. Now that she’s running for the House, Gulleson is a cheerleader for crop insurance and her son is a “Million Dollar Producer” selling crop insurance.

There is nothing inherently illegal or unethical about any of that, but don’t expect the Fargo Forum to exercise the same sort of scrutiny on those ties as they focus on oil contribution.

Because oil is bad, but the agriculture industry is good.