11/29/07 Amendment agreement on new farm bill?

Senate aids say there's an agreement on the horizon that would permit a limited number of amendments to the farm bill. That could mean, in the words of one Capitol Hill aid that work on the bill could be completed in a couple of days. American Farm Bureau's Mark Maslyn is hopeful that the Senate will buckle down and get the job done after their Thanksgiving break. MASLYN "The Senate spent ten days arguing over amendments and procedure and process and there's a little bit about policies, a little bit about substance and a lot about power." Maslyn knows that there are some who say the 2002 Farm Bill should just be extended but he says that's a political difficulty for the Senate. MASLYN "There's been so much momentum built up toward reform. Reform of the commodity programs, more money for nutrition, more money for environmental conservation needs, more money for fruits and vegetables and all of those changes from the 2002 bill would not carry through if it were just extended." Maslyn says many in Congress who have heard from their constituents during this two week break and the message is 'we want action, not words.' However, chances are still bleak that House and Senate negotiators could reconcile two very different farm bill versions before the end of the year and President Bush is threatening to veto both of the bills. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott