Farm Bill Draft from Senate
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Senate Ag Democrats insist that they must have a delay in state SNAP cost sharing before they can support Chairman John Boozman’s farm bill draft.
Senator Amy Klobuchar says Boozman’s draft must fix the delay which was just given to some states in last year’s tax bill …
KLOBUCHAR … “It is such an unfair situation when high error rate states, 21 to 1, get the benefit of this over low error rate states.” Kaye “But is this a deal-breaker if you don’t get concessions?” Klobuchar “We need to have changes on SNAP.”
Klobuchar says even red state governors want a two-year delay, so all states have time to adjust their budgets. And Boozman admits …
BOOZMAN … “It’s created some problems. So, we’re looking at those, seeing if we can solve them.”
But Boozman says both sides are working in good faith as farmers face the biggest income drop in history …
BOOZMAN … “Congress has been really supportive of taking care of our farmers. They realize the difficult situation that they’re in, so, because of that, I think everybody is talking in good faith and trying to get this accomplished.”
But Senate Majority Leader, John Thune is cautious about undoing SNAP reforms enact last year …
BOOZMAN … “I would hope that we can execute on moving a farm bill and not try and undo something we did last summer that many of supported and agree with because we believe they’re the right policies.”
SNAP reform fights have stalled a new farm bill since 2023, but the April House-passage provided some momentum in the Senate.
