Passing the Buck

Forget the old adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again”. Apparently, Congress has decided to go with “pass the buck” when it comes to the Farm Bill. With Congress wanting to extend the 2008 Farm Bill for a year before leaving for the August recess many farm organizations moved beyond sheer frustration over the lack of decision making by Congress, and are now feeling outright ire. The message being conveyed by the majority of ag leaders is that farmers need to know what the farm programs are going to be over the long term in order to make their plans. An extension means the farm bill drafting process will have to start all over again with the new Congress. But then, that’s the point isn’t it? With such an extension politicians could rest easier during an election year with no one having to take the heat over a final Farm Bill drafting, or at least that seems to be the thought process. But this political ploy could quite easily backfire on both parties. Real lives and livelihoods are the playing pieces in this political chess game. Passing the buck is bad, passing the buck while destroying essential programs and reform packages is shameful.