Farm Bill; Appropriations; Wheat; and, the Ag Economy- Wednesday Posted By Keith Good On June 5, 2013 Farm Bill- Senate Focus Yesterday evening, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) filed cloture on the Farm Bill (S.954). A cloture vote has been set for 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 6. The Senate will not be in session on Wednesday as memorial observances for the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg, the late Senator from the State of New Jersey take place. Erik Wasson reported yesterday at The Hill’s On the Money blog that, “[The cloture motion (60-vote threshold)] would create a Monday final vote on the farm bill…” And David Rogers pointed out yesterday at Politico that, “Cloture is always a challenge, but having been through a lengthy amendment process in the last Congress, Stabenow has tried to save time — and win support — by including virtually all the major substantive provisions adopted by the Senate in floor debate a year ago.” Earlier yesterday, Leader Reid indicated that, “This week work continues on an agriculture bill that will create jobs, cut taxpayer subsidies and reduce the deficit. Chairman Stabenow and Ranking Member Cochran have done exceptional work managing this bill. They made excellent progress, processing amendments. I will give the managers as much time as I can to reach an agreement to consider a finite list of amendments to the farm bill. And I hope I will not have to file cloture on this legislation tonight. “But we need to move forward. It is important to leave ample time for debate on the bipartisan immigration bill reported by the Judiciary Committee last month. And the Senate must move before the end of June to protect students from the rising cost of education and keep loan rates low.” Several attempts were made yesterday afternoon to bring up amendments on the Farm Bill; however, objections were made on each one of them. An update posted yesterday at the Senate Democrats Online explained that, “This afternoon, there were multiple requests for additional amendments to be called up to S.954, the Farm bill. None of the amendments received the consent necessary.” Yesterday’s update proceeded to provide details on each amendment request. DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday (link requires subscription) that, “Senators finally came to the floor in the afternoon to highlight some of the gridlock problems on amendments. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., attempted to offer an amendment, but drew an objection from [Sen. Mary Landrieu (D., La.)] before he could explain the provision. Landrieu then said she was upset Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., had put a hold on an amendment on flood insurance she and cosponsors had tried to attach to the Water Resources Development bill, and now Landrieu wants to bring up that amendment on the farm bill. Landrieu’s amendment would grandfather in current flood-insurance rates to avoid rate increases until an affordability study is done. ‘‘I’m not trying to stop anything,’ Landrieu said. ‘I’m just trying to advance a vote on flood insurance.’ “Because her amendment was blocked, Landrieu said she would in turn then block every Republican amendment on the farm bill” [video replay of a portion of this exchange is available here]. Mr. Clayton noted that, “Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., then began to offer a list of amendments and Landrieu followed through to stop Coburn’s amendments from being debated. Coburn said he sympathizes with Landrieu’s situation. Coburn said the problem with the Senate now is that too many senators are too cowardly to debate and vote on amendments or take a stand on a position. “‘We’ve unwound because we don’t want to have real debates and real votes,’ Coburn said. “Stabenow came to the floor to acknowledge there were still problems getting a final, universal list of amendments to debate. She said ideally, even if the cloture vote moves ahead, there would be a final list of amendments to debate.” Niels Lesniewski reported yesterday at Roll Call Online that, “Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., made a series of requests to get a slew of farm bill amendments called up and pending for votes, but faced objection. At one point, Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow of Michigan actually called out Coburn for trying to offer an amendment that had already been included in her bill. “By and large, Stabenow and ranking member Thad Cochran, R-Miss., included amendments adopted during last year’s farm bill marathon that included 73 votes.” The Roll Call item added that, “‘We don’t at this point have time to go through 150 amendments, so what we’ve got to do is find out what is a priority for everyone, put together a finite list, we’re going to continue to work on that,’ Stabenow said.” In remarks on the Farm Bill yesterday morning on the Senate floor, Chairwoman Stabenow noted that, “Let me remind colleagues again that we—a year ago, most of us [were] here at that time—a year ago we worked very hard. In fact, other than the budget resolution, I think we may have the record for most amendments that were voted on on a piece of legislation. I don’t know that for sure, but I think it rates right up there.” (video replay of Chairwoman Stabenow’s floor presentation available here). An editorial update this week at The Hill Online stated that, “The road to President Obama’s desk will be bumpy for the farm bill, but Stabenow’s aggressive push has improved its chances.” Meanwhile, an update today by Lewis Bollard at The Hill’s Congress Blog indicated that, “It’s not often that the National Pork Producers Council and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals agree on anything. But both are opposing an amendment that Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) will offer to the Farm Bill. The amendment would set basic national standards for egg production—standards that the pork producers think go to far, and PETA thinks don’t go far enough. “Their opposition is all the more reason to pass the amendment. The amendment is a rarity in the current Congress: a bipartisan compromise that proposes moderate reforms. It’s no surprise that extremists on both sides feel threatened. “Feinstein’s amendment simply requires that egg laying hens have enough space to perch, nest, flap their wings, and express other natural behaviors. It bans ‘molting’—starving hens to induce growth—and sets ammonia standards in henhouses to protect animals and farmworkers. It introduces clear production-method labels, so consumers know what they’re buying. And it gives farmers 15-18 years to adapt their cages, plus a uniform national standard so they can invest in new henhouses.” In other developments, Reuters writer Charles Abbott reported this week that, “Food manufacturers and big sugar buyers said on Monday they believe a proposed U.S. sugar-to-ethanol program will cost twice as much as a government estimate and urged congress to repeal it as part of broader changes in sugar policy. “The program, which would allow the government to buy excess sugar and sell it to biofuel manufacturers, stands to cost the U.S. government $100 million in the fiscal year through October 1, said Agralytica food policy consultant Tom Earley on behalf of the Coalition for Sugar Reform. That would be roughly double the Congressional Budget Office’s baseline estimate of $51 million.” And from a political perspective, Alexander Bolton reported yesterday at The Hill Online that, “Senate Democrats hope to pass a five-year farm bill this week and bolster their appeal with rural voters, who they see as crucial to retaining their majority in 2014.” Mr. Bolton explained that, “Agriculture is a major industry in Montana, South Dakota, Arkansas and North Carolina, four states that are huge GOP targets next year. Montana and South Dakota are open seats following the announced retirements of Sens. Max Baucus(D-Mont.) and Tim Johnson (D-S.D.)
Posted on: Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:45:36 +0000
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