From an 'unexpectedly' surprised Associated Press:
"The panel will be responsible for providing recommendations to the president on investment in rural areas, as well as coordinating with a variety of rural interests, including agricultural groups, small businesses, and state, local and tribal governments.I guess Pres. Obama never heard about the United States Dept. of Agriculture, or it's plethora of sub-divisions including, but not limited to, the USDA's own 115 billion dollar Rural Development agency, or the USDA's Farm Service Agency, which already have legions of bureaucrats on the ground addressing all the president's concerns.
It will focus on 10 areas that affect nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population of 308 million. But the panel's initial focus will be on job creation and economic development.
Rural residents are eager for better educational opportunities, transportation alternatives, better access to health care and reliable access to the Internet, among other issues.
The remaining subject areas will be: agriculture, access to credit, innovation, health care, education, Internet access, infrastructure, conservation and developing regional economies."
Probably never heard this, either.