Farm Bill Hope is Fading

Hopes are fading fast to start formal House-Senate farm bill negotiations before Congress’ long August recess. Sparks flew between House leaders on the issue last Thursday. With just this week left before a month-long summer recess - House GOP Leader Eric Cantor - in a sharply-worded floor exchange with Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer - insisted the House will eventually go to conference with the Senate on the farm bill

Eric Cantor: I would say, Mr. Speaker, to the gentleman it is not accurate that to we don’t intend to eventually go conference and iron out the differences between the House and Senate on both of those issues -- on the ag policy as well as the nutrition policies.”

The weekly end-of-the-week exchange gives Democratic Whip Hoyer a chance to question - and challenge - the Majority Leader on key issues and legislation

Hoyer: “I didn’t talk about intentions, I talked about fact. Pete Sessions, chairman of the rules committee, Republican, said this,’By passing part of the Farm Bill, I believe this is an honest step to get us to go to conference.’ I asked the gentleman last week, I asked him again. There is nothing on here about going to conference. Gentleman has told me that we are not going to conference until we pass something on nutrition.”

Hoyer - addressing Cantor - insisted no more waiting is needed

Hoyer: “So the gentleman is not accurate when he reflects there is nothing to go to conference on. The Senate has amended their bill into the House bill -- we could clearly go to conference on that - under the processes. I think the gentleman must knows that. That was the expectation that Pete Sessions says was the purpose of passing the Farm Bill.”