Democrats may use farm bill for unemployment benefits leverage
December 16, 2013 | 07:09 AM
House Democrats may refuse to vote for the farm bill unless Republicans agree to use the savings in that bill to pay for an extension of unemployment benefits, The Washington Post reported Friday.
Democrats tried to attach an extension of unemployment benefits to the budget deal that passed the House on Thursday, but the Republicans refused to do that and it passed anyway with large numbers of Republican and Democratic votes.
“Under no circumstances should we support the farm bill unless Republicans agree to use the savings from it to extend unemployment insurance,” Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a top party strategist, told the Post.
“This is a potential pressure point. We’re going to have to resolve differences in the farm bill because otherwise milk prices will spike. If past is prologue, they are going to need a good chunk of Democrats to pass the farm bill.”
Democrats tried to attach an extension of unemployment benefits to the budget deal that passed the House on Thursday, but the Republicans refused to do that and it passed anyway with large numbers of Republican and Democratic votes.
“Under no circumstances should we support the farm bill unless Republicans agree to use the savings from it to extend unemployment insurance,” Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a top party strategist, told the Post.
“This is a potential pressure point. We’re going to have to resolve differences in the farm bill because otherwise milk prices will spike. If past is prologue, they are going to need a good chunk of Democrats to pass the farm bill.”
