On-Time Farm Bill Unlikely
Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
With just a few days left to pass a farm bill by the end of the month, reaching the finish line on-time is not likely, according to Senator Tammy Baldwin.
Baldwin… “I have much greater hope that we will see the farm bill completed by the end of the year. I know that there's been a lot of progress at the staff level in terms of working through various contentious issues on the Senate side. I think the realistic goal is by the end of the year, not by the end of the month.”
The current farm bill expires September 30. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said this week the chamber would try to pass a farm bill by the end of the year. But first, McCarthy must navigate a potential government shutdown.
Baldwin… “I believe we'll be able to avert it, but it is really up to the House and up to the negotiations that Speaker McCarthy is engaged in. I want to just say on the Senate side, we are proceeding with our funding bills in a very orderly matter. We have three appropriations bills up before the Senate this week and the votes so far have been overwhelmingly bipartisan and supportive. But it seems like they're undertaking a very partisan approach on the House side.”
Not only does the farm bill expire at the end of the month, spending bills must be passed to avert the potential shutdown.
