Farm Bill Plan B
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. A new farm bill again faces tough odds this year, given all Congress must do on other issues like taxes and raising the debt ceiling, and that means the possibility of a farm bill ‘plan B.’
The way former USDA Deputy Secretary Chuck Connor sees the legislative landscape this year …
CONNOR … “Just given how few bills are going to pass, you have to believe there’s a chance that the farm bill and other priorities might be a part of that reconciliation process.”
A 4-and-a-half Trillion-dollar monster bill to include an extension of the president’s 2017 tax cuts, budget cuts, and an increase in the debt limit.
Connor told Agri-Pulse’s Ag and Food Policy Summit there’s precedent for using a reconciliation package that can’t be filibustered to pass a farm bill …
CONNOR … “Some of our difficult farm bills in the past have been done as a result of reconciliation. And so, this is obviously in that category of very difficult farm bills.”
Especially because of Democratic push-back against SNAP and other cuts reaching a boiling point.
Some Senators say a farm bill might not be a ‘good fit’ with budget reconciliation.
Connor also says a lot could be missed by skirting regular order …
CONNOR … “We’ve got the basis for some very good farm legislation here. Our differences aren’t as vast as they have been historically, in my humble opinion, and so, I would like to see regular order proceed there.”
Given Congress’ inability to get things done, Connor says short-circuiting the farm bill process is an option.
