Lucas to offer farm bill extension, but tones down need for it
December 10, 2013 | 06:06 PM
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said today he will offer an extension to the 2008 farm bill through the end of January. But after Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said the Senate would not pass it, Lucas said he hopes that so much progress is made this week the House will not have to vote on it.
Lucas, Stabenow and House Agriculture ranking member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., talked to reporters after they and Senate Agriculture Committee ranking member Thad Cochran, R-Miss., met in Stabenow’s office in the Hart Senate Office Building this afternoon.
Lucas, who chairs the conference, said they had continued to make progress, but that he would file an extension by the end of today to make sure there will be no increase in dairy prices.
Stabenow quickly added that the Senate would not pass an extension, but she and Lucas appeared friendly and did not seem to be at odds about the strategy. Lucas said he feels compelled to “have it ready before Congress goes home,” but that if it looks like Congress would take up the farm bill the first week in January he would be “very hesistant” to bring it to the floor for a vote.
Noting that the House is scheduled to leave Friday, Lucas said that if the vote is held it will be at the last possible moment.
Stabenow said the Senate would not vote for a bill that would authorize the Agriculture Department to make a new round of direct payments to crop producers even though those payments would not be scheduled to be made until October.
Stabenow also told reporters earlier that she wants to keep up the pressure to finish the bill. She said the four principals hope to announce a framework agreement before the Senate leaves for the holidays on December 20, then hold the open conference meeting in early January and then pass the bill.
Progress was held up today, she said, because “the person” in charge of needed scores — presumably a Congressional Budget Office employee — had been delayed returning to Washington because of the weather.
Asked about rumors that the four principals have agreed on a cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program of $8 billion over 10 years, Stabenow declined to comment, saying that no part of the bill is done until it is all done.
Stabenow said that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack had assured her that there would be no impact on dairy prices in January if the farm bill is not passed until some time in that month.
Peterson said he agreed with Stabenow that “nothing will happen in January” on dairy prices. He also said that he does not believe there should be an extension, but that he will “hold judgment” on whether he will vote for it when it comes up on the House floor.
In veiled language, Peterson signaled that he believes Lucas is bringing up the extension because the House leadership wants it. Peterson said people pushing the extension have their own agenda, but that Lucas “has to deal with them.”
Lucas also said that the extension would be straightforward and would not contain any provision to increase dairy spending.
The bill passed at New Year’s that extended the 2008 farm bill through September 30 included some money from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program education account in case it was needed to deal with low dairy prices.
Since the extension expired, the Agriculture Department on January 1 technically must begin to enforce the 1949 dairy law, which would require USDA to buy milk and would result in higher milk prices to consumers.
Peterson once again declined to reveal details of a dairy deal, but said, “We’re going to have a dairy title that works.”
Asked if he was happy with it, Peterson said he is never completely happy, but that the dairy title would work. He said it would not be the dairy amendment sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., that passed the House because the Goodlatte program “doesn't work.”
Lucas, Stabenow and House Agriculture ranking member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., talked to reporters after they and Senate Agriculture Committee ranking member Thad Cochran, R-Miss., met in Stabenow’s office in the Hart Senate Office Building this afternoon.
Lucas, who chairs the conference, said they had continued to make progress, but that he would file an extension by the end of today to make sure there will be no increase in dairy prices.
Stabenow quickly added that the Senate would not pass an extension, but she and Lucas appeared friendly and did not seem to be at odds about the strategy. Lucas said he feels compelled to “have it ready before Congress goes home,” but that if it looks like Congress would take up the farm bill the first week in January he would be “very hesistant” to bring it to the floor for a vote.
Noting that the House is scheduled to leave Friday, Lucas said that if the vote is held it will be at the last possible moment.
Stabenow said the Senate would not vote for a bill that would authorize the Agriculture Department to make a new round of direct payments to crop producers even though those payments would not be scheduled to be made until October.
Stabenow also told reporters earlier that she wants to keep up the pressure to finish the bill. She said the four principals hope to announce a framework agreement before the Senate leaves for the holidays on December 20, then hold the open conference meeting in early January and then pass the bill.
Progress was held up today, she said, because “the person” in charge of needed scores — presumably a Congressional Budget Office employee — had been delayed returning to Washington because of the weather.
Asked about rumors that the four principals have agreed on a cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program of $8 billion over 10 years, Stabenow declined to comment, saying that no part of the bill is done until it is all done.
Stabenow said that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack had assured her that there would be no impact on dairy prices in January if the farm bill is not passed until some time in that month.
Peterson said he agreed with Stabenow that “nothing will happen in January” on dairy prices. He also said that he does not believe there should be an extension, but that he will “hold judgment” on whether he will vote for it when it comes up on the House floor.
In veiled language, Peterson signaled that he believes Lucas is bringing up the extension because the House leadership wants it. Peterson said people pushing the extension have their own agenda, but that Lucas “has to deal with them.”
Lucas also said that the extension would be straightforward and would not contain any provision to increase dairy spending.
The bill passed at New Year’s that extended the 2008 farm bill through September 30 included some money from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program education account in case it was needed to deal with low dairy prices.
Since the extension expired, the Agriculture Department on January 1 technically must begin to enforce the 1949 dairy law, which would require USDA to buy milk and would result in higher milk prices to consumers.
Peterson once again declined to reveal details of a dairy deal, but said, “We’re going to have a dairy title that works.”
Asked if he was happy with it, Peterson said he is never completely happy, but that the dairy title would work. He said it would not be the dairy amendment sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., that passed the House because the Goodlatte program “doesn't work.”
