THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON: MASS. SENATE RACE, HEALTH CARE, DEBT LIMIT

News Date January 19, 2010

The Senate returns following its holiday recess to debate legislation to raise the debt ceiling.  Amendments will likely include the establishment of a deficit reduction commission and a permanent “pay/go” proposal.   Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is expected to offer a controversial climate change amendment that would temporarily bar the EPA from taking further regulatory actions on greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.  The House is set to consider several minor water provisions and name a number of post offices.

Today’s closer-than-expected special election to fill the Senate seat of the late Ted Kennedy (D-MA) could dramatically alter the political landscape in Washington.  A win by Republican Scott Brown over Democrat Martha Coakley would deprive Democrats of their 60 vote filibuster-proof majority in the Senate and significantly impact debate over a final health care bill, as well as a number of measures that could impact agriculture.

With health care and financial system reform on Senate Democratic leaders’ must-pass list, there is likely time on the Senate calendar for only one more major issue.  That has left Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and John Kerry (D-MA) jostling to get their pet projects on the front burner.  Schumer is pressing for immigration reform while Kerry wants the chamber to take up climate change legislation.

Meanwhile, the White House has announced that President Obama’s annual State of the Union address to Congress will take place on January 27 at 9 p.m. EST.  The White House will also reveal its fiscal year 2011 budget request on February 1.  Last year’s presidential budget targeted a number of agriculture-related programs for funding cuts.  With pressure building to focus on deficit reduction, the administration is likely once again to propose funding cuts that could impact agriculture.  (Contact: Farm Policy Staff)