Schafer predicts farm bill veto, followed by congressional override
Schafer predicts farm bill veto, followed by congressional override
LAS VEGAS, NV -- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer believes that Congress will pass a "bloated" and "pork-barrel"-laden farm bill that will be vetoed by President Bush, with that veto overridden by Congress, whose members want that bill to pass for the purpose of touting it during upcoming re-election campaigns.
Secretary Schafer expressed his opinions during a general business session at the United Fresh Produce Association convention here Tuesday, May 7, and at a press conference following that keynote address. While making his formal comments, he said that the farm bill conferees for the House and the Senate were meeting in Washington and had 12 major issues that had yet to be ironed out. He said that all indications were that Congress would come to an agreement but that the bill would not meet the criteria the president stipulated would need to be met for him to be satisfied and sign the bill.
Mr. Schafer said that the president sent specific proposals to Congress dealing with spending levels, funding sources and reforms. While there is room for compromise, the newly named agriculture chief said that the president is looking for a framework that reforms U.S. agricultural policy and does not reward "the wealthiest farmers when farm prices are at an all-time high." He added, "What is currently on the Hill does not meet the test."
President Bush had wanted expenditures over baseline funding to be no more than $5 billion. Secretary Schafer said that the conferees are currently negotiating a bill with a budget that is said to be $10 billion over baseline. He said that the president could live with that level but that the true cost of the current proposal is $18 billion over baseline -- an amount the president will not agree to.
Those close to the negotiations were predicting that the conferees would have a bill to present to the Senate and the House during the week of May 12. The current farm bill extension expires May 16.
During his press conference, Secretary Schafer said that he did not expect the president to sign another short-term extension to the current farm bill. In fact, he said that if the current negotiations fail to produce a palatable bill, he would recommend a two-year extension of the 2002 bill. Farmers have already begun planting, and they need to know the rules of the game, he said. Unless the prospects are very good that another short-term extension would produce results acceptable to the president, Mr. Schafer said that he would recommend against signing such an extension.
During his prepared remarks, the secretary discussed changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children, which helps feed 50 percent of the children in this country with subsidized groceries from the government. Under the changes that will soon be enacted, most fruits and vegetables are included, which is expected to offer a great boost to producers of those items.
One omission is white potatoes, which has caused those in that industry to file objections. During his press conference, Mr. Schafer explained that potatoes were not included because the WIC program is designed to supplement the typical diet of low-income people with nutritious foods that are not already in their shopping basket. He said that research revealed that potatoes are a staple item that most WIC program recipients already buy. However, he admitted that the argument from potato producers that exclusion from the program will reduce the purchases of their products is a reasonable position, and he indicated that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will continue to research the situation.
After Mr. Shafer's remarks, United Fresh Produce Association President Tom Stenzel closed the session, and with the mike in his hand, he took the opportunity to publicly lobby the secretary on behalf of the farm bill.
He said that more than 100 specialty crop organizations, represented by the Specialty Crop Alliance, would urge the president to sign the farm bill if he is presented one by Congress. The specialty crop industry has achieved multi- billion dollar gains in the current farm bill, and an extension of the 2002 bill would eliminate those gains.
Secretary Schafer expressed his opinions during a general business session at the United Fresh Produce Association convention here Tuesday, May 7, and at a press conference following that keynote address. While making his formal comments, he said that the farm bill conferees for the House and the Senate were meeting in Washington and had 12 major issues that had yet to be ironed out. He said that all indications were that Congress would come to an agreement but that the bill would not meet the criteria the president stipulated would need to be met for him to be satisfied and sign the bill.
Mr. Schafer said that the president sent specific proposals to Congress dealing with spending levels, funding sources and reforms. While there is room for compromise, the newly named agriculture chief said that the president is looking for a framework that reforms U.S. agricultural policy and does not reward "the wealthiest farmers when farm prices are at an all-time high." He added, "What is currently on the Hill does not meet the test."
President Bush had wanted expenditures over baseline funding to be no more than $5 billion. Secretary Schafer said that the conferees are currently negotiating a bill with a budget that is said to be $10 billion over baseline. He said that the president could live with that level but that the true cost of the current proposal is $18 billion over baseline -- an amount the president will not agree to.
Those close to the negotiations were predicting that the conferees would have a bill to present to the Senate and the House during the week of May 12. The current farm bill extension expires May 16.
During his press conference, Secretary Schafer said that he did not expect the president to sign another short-term extension to the current farm bill. In fact, he said that if the current negotiations fail to produce a palatable bill, he would recommend a two-year extension of the 2002 bill. Farmers have already begun planting, and they need to know the rules of the game, he said. Unless the prospects are very good that another short-term extension would produce results acceptable to the president, Mr. Schafer said that he would recommend against signing such an extension.
During his prepared remarks, the secretary discussed changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children, which helps feed 50 percent of the children in this country with subsidized groceries from the government. Under the changes that will soon be enacted, most fruits and vegetables are included, which is expected to offer a great boost to producers of those items.
One omission is white potatoes, which has caused those in that industry to file objections. During his press conference, Mr. Schafer explained that potatoes were not included because the WIC program is designed to supplement the typical diet of low-income people with nutritious foods that are not already in their shopping basket. He said that research revealed that potatoes are a staple item that most WIC program recipients already buy. However, he admitted that the argument from potato producers that exclusion from the program will reduce the purchases of their products is a reasonable position, and he indicated that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will continue to research the situation.
After Mr. Shafer's remarks, United Fresh Produce Association President Tom Stenzel closed the session, and with the mike in his hand, he took the opportunity to publicly lobby the secretary on behalf of the farm bill.
He said that more than 100 specialty crop organizations, represented by the Specialty Crop Alliance, would urge the president to sign the farm bill if he is presented one by Congress. The specialty crop industry has achieved multi- billion dollar gains in the current farm bill, and an extension of the 2002 bill would eliminate those gains.
