Negotiations Moving Forward on Farm Bill (2/15/2008)

Those responsible for the Farm Bill may be moving closer to final passage of the long awaited legislation. Although no formal conference has taken place, House and Senate leaders are working on producing a bill that can clear both houses of Congress as well as the White House. Both House and Senate leaders have created final proposals to negotiate over, hoping they can produce a final conference report before March 15, when the current Farm Bill expires.

Earlier this week, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson (D-MN) and ranking member Robert W. Goodlatte (R-VA) released a new proposal that would come in at $6 billion above baseline spending for the five-year legislation, which authorizes federal agriculture programs. Peterson claims the White House will support the spending levels in his proposal. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), on the other hand, has countered with his own proposal. Harkin’s measure mirror’s Peterson’s, but includes funding levels that are about $12.5 billion above baseline spending.

All parties involved want additional funding, but any such legislation will face a veto threat from the White House. Despite the significant behind-the-scenes negotiating that is taking place, there is little talk regarding the nutrition provisions of either proposal. A majority of school nutrition advocates support the Senate’s expansion of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program. Unfortunately, the talks are currently focused on payments to farmers, one of the most controversial sections of the bill.

Sen. Harkin and his staff plan to work through the weekend, hopefully coming up with a compromise with the House by Sunday. If he is successful, a conference report could make it through Congress shortly after they return from the week-long President’s Day recess. This may allow Congress to get a bill to the President before the March 15 deadline.

Resources:
Geof Koss, “Harkin Demands More Farm Bill Spending Than House-Backed Level,” Congress Now, February 14, 2008.
Catharine Richert, “Lawmakers Meet to Move Revamped Farm Legislation Closer to Fruition,” CQ Today, February 14, 2008.
Author: SAS