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http://www.ewg.org/opening.html
Wasteful House Farm Bill Dead For This Year
In Abrupt Reversal, Farm Groups Halt Push
For Legislation
Administration Opposed
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 - Heeding appeals from Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and the Bush Administration, key agribusiness groups today abruptly dropped their demand that Congress enact a costly and controversial farm bill that was rushed through the House of Representatives in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
In an October 23 letter to Senator Tom Daschle, agricultural groups that have been pressing for quick Senate action on the House measure said they would support "a deliberative process with a goal of reaching Senate passage" early next year.
The letter, signed by the American Soybean Association, National Cattleman's Beef Association, National Corn Growers Association and six other agriculture lobby groups effectively ends what had been a united drive by farm groups to push the House bill through the Senate before Congress adjourns this year. The letter came after the White House put pressure on farm groups to defer Farm Bill action until next year, as Secretary Veneman has requested.
"This is an impressive display of persistence and leadership by Secretary Veneman and the Bush Administration. They have given everyone breathing room to turn a wasteful House Farm Bill into a fairer deal for all farmers and ranchers, taxpayers and the environment," said Kenneth Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
The letter is also an unexpected blow to House Agriculture Committee Larry Combest's (R-TX) efforts to enact the $172 billion, 10-year measure this year. Agriculture Secretary Veneman and the Bush Administration have strongly opposed the Combest bill on grounds it gave too much federal support to too few farms and short-changed conservation, nutrition and other priorities.
"Rushing the process of developing comprehensive farm legislation at this critical time without full and careful consideration could well result in policies and programs that do not effectively address today's needs," the groups wrote Daschle, adopting arguments by Agriculture Secretary Veneman they had rejected for months.
"Some farm leaders in Congress have questioned whether Ann Veneman truly speaks for the Bush Administration on matters of agriculture policy," Cook observed. "This letter dispels those doubts."
EWG is a research and advocacy group that supports increased emphasis on conservation in farm policy.
