FARM BILL NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE
News Date February 25, 2008
House and Senate agricultural leaders are continuing to hold intense negotiations on the 2007 farm bill and hope to reach an agreement on a funding framework the week of February 25. Lawmakers are working hard to reach a compromise and pass final legislation before the current farm bill expires on March 15.
Both House and Senate Agriculture Committee chairmen have offered proposals for farm bill spending levels. Congressional sources say that lawmakers are considering a bill that would provide about $9 billion over the baseline costs of almost $600 billion over a ten-year period from 2008 to 2017. House members had proposed $6 billion in additional spending while Senate lawmakers had proposed a $12 billion spending level. One of the major unresolved issues is whether the extra funding will be considered as tax increases. USDA and the Bush administration have repeatedly issued veto threats if any tax increases are used to pay for farm bill programs.
Although the Senate appointed farm bill conferees weeks ago, the House conferees are not expected to be appointed until negotiators are closer to a spending deal. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)