War and Agriculture
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. The Iran war, Congress’s fight over Homeland Security funding and the voter ID SAVE Act are complicating farm struggles.
What’s nearing a 50 day shutdown this year for DHS, compounded by debate on the SAVE Act, means the time for a
farm bill and year-round E15 legislation is dwindling fast.
Which, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says, is making it …
GRASSLEY … “Very, very difficult, and it just shortens the time period that you have.”
Add to that the time it will take once the Iran war ends to repair refineries and ports and reopen the Strait of Hormuz …
GRASSLEY … “Even if the Strait of Hormuz was open and there was no Iran war, farmers are losing money, and they’re just going to lose more money. I’m sorry to say that, but that’s the fact.”
As farm bankruptcies rise, Grassley says there’s talk of $15 billion more in bridge aid or $14 billion in a war supplemental or a special budget bill that can’t be filibustered …
GRASSLEY … “Wouldn’t it make more sense for the E15 at $14 billion, instead of $15 billion out of the federal treasury?”
And, Grassley says Oklahoma Senator James Lankford has proposed automatic stopgap funding to head off shutdowns …
LANKFORD … “There’s no better example of the need for the Lankford legislation of an automatic continuing resolution.”
But shutdowns remain a potent political weapon.
