Senate vote places 2007 farm bill in jeopardy
Senate vote places 2007 farm bill in jeopardy
WASHINGTON -- A Senate vote cast Nov. 16 failed to end the stalemate on the 2007 farm bill, a move that could jeopardize the hard-fought funding reforms for specialty crop programs this year.
The Senate fell five votes short (55-42) of the 60 votes needed to limit the debate on the $286 billion bill, raising doubts about whether the Senate can break the impasse after the Thanksgiving recess, shepherd the bill through conference committee and deliver it to President Bush before the end of the session. In fact, some lawmakers are suggesting that a bipartisan bill may not pass until 2008 or 2009.
"We are disappointed in the lack of progress that is being made by the Senate regarding the consideration and passage of the 2007 farm bill," said Robert Guenther, senior vice president for public policy at the United Fresh Produce Association. "Most importantly, this ongoing delay with the 2007 farm Bill will make it difficult to enact legislation that addresses the needs of the specialty crop industry, which include increasing the role of fruits and vegetables to improve nutrition, expanding production and product innovation research capabilities and improving critical procedures to control for invasive pests and diseases from entering this country."
Some lawmakers have criticized the White House for trying to kill the bill before the president would have been pushed to veto it, which could jeopardize Republican elections in farm states.
"I was deeply disappointed by this morning's vote to block the farm bill," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. "Frankly, I worry that there is a deliberate and orchestrated attempt to derail the farm bill. This bill continues and improves farm income protection and promotes new income opportunities for farm and ranch families -- with more help to dairy farmers and particularly to specialty crop producers."
Now some Republican farm-state lawmakers are pushing for a flat reauthorization of the 2002 farm bill. Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced a bill to extend current farm policy for one year to ensure stability for America's farmers and ranchers as they begin planting their 2008 crops.
"Without stable farm policy, our farmers and ranchers cannot make planning decisions, finalize land-lease contracts or negotiate lending agreements," said Rep. Goodlatte. "This inaction is putting our producers between a rock and a hard place -- and that is unacceptable."
However, "We will not support a simple extension of the 2002 farm bill," said Mr. Guenther. "This bill is not dead, and we expect the Senate to come back after the Thanksgiving recess ready to resolve their difference and pass a Senate farm bill."
The Senate fell five votes short (55-42) of the 60 votes needed to limit the debate on the $286 billion bill, raising doubts about whether the Senate can break the impasse after the Thanksgiving recess, shepherd the bill through conference committee and deliver it to President Bush before the end of the session. In fact, some lawmakers are suggesting that a bipartisan bill may not pass until 2008 or 2009.
"We are disappointed in the lack of progress that is being made by the Senate regarding the consideration and passage of the 2007 farm bill," said Robert Guenther, senior vice president for public policy at the United Fresh Produce Association. "Most importantly, this ongoing delay with the 2007 farm Bill will make it difficult to enact legislation that addresses the needs of the specialty crop industry, which include increasing the role of fruits and vegetables to improve nutrition, expanding production and product innovation research capabilities and improving critical procedures to control for invasive pests and diseases from entering this country."
Some lawmakers have criticized the White House for trying to kill the bill before the president would have been pushed to veto it, which could jeopardize Republican elections in farm states.
"I was deeply disappointed by this morning's vote to block the farm bill," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. "Frankly, I worry that there is a deliberate and orchestrated attempt to derail the farm bill. This bill continues and improves farm income protection and promotes new income opportunities for farm and ranch families -- with more help to dairy farmers and particularly to specialty crop producers."
Now some Republican farm-state lawmakers are pushing for a flat reauthorization of the 2002 farm bill. Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced a bill to extend current farm policy for one year to ensure stability for America's farmers and ranchers as they begin planting their 2008 crops.
"Without stable farm policy, our farmers and ranchers cannot make planning decisions, finalize land-lease contracts or negotiate lending agreements," said Rep. Goodlatte. "This inaction is putting our producers between a rock and a hard place -- and that is unacceptable."
However, "We will not support a simple extension of the 2002 farm bill," said Mr. Guenther. "This bill is not dead, and we expect the Senate to come back after the Thanksgiving recess ready to resolve their difference and pass a Senate farm bill."
