Farm bill negotiations appear to be continuing
December 05, 2013 | 04:58 PM
Negotiations on the farm bill conference report appeared to be continuing this afternoon, even though House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said an extension of the 2008 farm bill might be needed.
Noting that the House is scheduled to adjourn Friday, Dec. 13, for the year, a House aide said the House might vote next week to extend the now-expired 2008 farm law into January, “just enough for us to get our work done,” Reuters reported.
No meeting of the principal conferees has been announced, and one Senate aide described the situation as committee staffers scurrying around working on details of policy and waiting for scores.
A key farm lobbyist said that the House and Senate conferees had jointly asked the Congressional Budget Office for a score on the commodity title, which was a good sign.
Another lobbyist said that differences remained over payment limitations and rules on who is “actively engaged” in farming.
Noting that the House is scheduled to adjourn Friday, Dec. 13, for the year, a House aide said the House might vote next week to extend the now-expired 2008 farm law into January, “just enough for us to get our work done,” Reuters reported.
No meeting of the principal conferees has been announced, and one Senate aide described the situation as committee staffers scurrying around working on details of policy and waiting for scores.
A key farm lobbyist said that the House and Senate conferees had jointly asked the Congressional Budget Office for a score on the commodity title, which was a good sign.
Another lobbyist said that differences remained over payment limitations and rules on who is “actively engaged” in farming.
