Farm bill progress slow

As focus in Washington, D.C., remains on budgetary issues, ag committee leadership appeared optimistic this week about the chance of passing a farm bill in 2013.

 

 

 

 

As focus in Washington, D.C., remains on budgetary issues, ag committee leadership appeared optimistic this week about the chance of passing a farm bill in 2013. While House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) said his leadership will wait for the right time to put a bill on the House agenda, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) praised Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) for his placeholder bill introduced this week—a symbolic move meant to show the Senate leader’s priorities.

 

House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) also expressed his optimism by telling the audience at an organizational committee hearing held Wednesday that he had spoke with House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and was hopeful an agreement could be made in moving the farm bill forward.

 

Even though leaders seem to agree on a long-term bill in 2013, no official dates for markup have been set, and Chairman Lucas explained the months leading up to summer will lay the groundwork for moving forward as spending and budget issues are acted upon.

   

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