Key Ag Legislation
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Legislation critical to agriculture is piling up in the Senate as partisan gridlock deepens ahead of the November midterm elections, and bipartisan cooperation is in short supply.
Farm, defense and government funding bills are all caught in the political crossfire.
Majority Leader John Thune …
THUNE … “Budget resolutions and reconciliation bills are very challenging. This one is no exception.”
Meanwhile, Minority Leader Dick Durbin of Illinois says Democrats are holding up the annual defense authorization bill because the president bypassed Congress before military action in Iran …
DURBIN … “We look at the Straits of Hormuz. Before we invaded Iran, they were open for the transport of energy, oil and fertilizers. Now, they are virtually closed, because of President Trump’s decision to invade Iran.”
And the farm bill is still awaiting Senate action a few days before lawmakers begin their five-week August recess.
Ag Chair John Boozman pushed back against Democrats’ demand for more time for states to fix SNAP overpayments …
BOOZMAN … “This is about having some sort of leverage to make them administer these programs in an efficient way and not waste money by overpaying people. So, as a result of that, we put this in place, and it’s created some problems.”
But the pressure won't let up.
When Congress returns after Labor Day, it will have only a few weeks to avert a government shutdown.
