11-10-2001

AGRICULTURE: Doubts Linger Over Finishing Farm Bill

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee made progress
this week marking up a farm bill, even as some doubts remain over whether
Congress can finish the legislation this year. The House approved a farm
bill in October, although the 1996 farm bill does not expire until next
year and the Bush Administration has urged Congress to wait until then to
act. However, many farm-state members and farm groups have pushed for
quick completion of the bill because they fear there won't be as much
money available next year. Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa,
said on November 7 that he hopes to finish his committee's markup by the
end of next week, before Congress leaves for Thanksgiving. Sen. Pat
Roberts, R-Kan., said he believes there is a consensus on the committee to
finish a farm bill this year, but there is no consensus on the contents of
the bill. "Most people want to move it, if it is [a bill] they agree
with," Roberts said. Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., said he does not
think the legislation needs to be finished this year. The farm bill that
Harkin unveiled on November 1 ends current payment limitations to farmers,
and replaces them with a quantity limitation on crop loans and a
limitation on farm programs of $100,000 per person. It would cover five
years, with budget estimates showing it would spend about the same $175
billion as the House-passed bill. Several other committee members have
their own competing farm bill proposals.


Jerry Hagstrom/CongressDaily

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