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Chairman Peterson looks for new farm bill optionsBy Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse Editor© Copyright Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson says he feels a lot like he did last June, when it wasn't clear whether or not he would be able to get a farm bill approved by all of the different players in the House. The only difference is that now he's dealing with a much larger group, including key Senators and the Bush Administration. Still a lot of folks are betting that his dogged determination and willingness to listen will pay off and that conferees will be able to produce a new bill before the current short-term extension expires on March 15th. Throughout much of the Congressional break, Peterson has been holding meetings and looking for ways to pass a farm bill this spring. "My whole strategy is to get a bill that the President can sign," he told Agri-Pulse in an interview on Jan. 14. There are some, including several within his party, who think a veto wouldn't be all bad. And there were even a few GOP members who may have believed that Acting Secretary Chuck Conner was not speaking for the White House when he talked about a possible farm bill veto. "That was clarified last Wednesday when Chuck, Barry (the president's assistant for strategic initiatives) and a certain Republican had a chat. I don't think it was what he wanted to hear," he added. Peterson would not identify the Republican, but sources say it was with Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), ranking minority member of the Senate Ag Committee. Yesterday, Conner and Jackson met with several farm groups to reinforce the message that they are working in lockstep. "They made it clear the White House will continue to look to Chuck on whether to sign or veto the bill," explained one source who attended the meeting. "It was also clear, by omission, that confirming Governor Schafer will have zero impact on Chuck's role in the end game." The biggest controversies continue to center around financing, payment limits and the adjusted gross income (AGI) test, Peterson said. Rebalancing loan rates and target prices are not as big of an issue at this point. Some Senators don't like the House financing package and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) now has a problem with a major portion of the Senate package--regarding the economic substance language. Solving the funding problem still seems illusive. Peterson said there were several budget cuts discussed in a meeting last week, "but some of the things they are talking about, I don't know how they would pass House and Senate." Conner and Peterson are also talking about different options on payment limits and the AGI, but again, there don't seem to be any clear solutions, or at least any that Peterson says Southerners can support. Peterson says he plans to keep talking to Conner, but "I told him that he can plan to implement 1949 law if we get to March 15 and there is no bill." At that time, the current short-term extension would expire and legislation would revert back to the 1949 farm act, dramatically changing several price support programs and eliminating many other programs. The other key pressure point in March will be the release of a new farm bill "score" from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which is expected to be lower, reflecting strong commodity prices. If that's the case, passing a one or two-year extension might be difficult, because nutrition, specialty crop and conservation groups that were expecting more money in a new farm bill might start looking for funds from the commodity title. "I'm not sure an extension will pass intact without protection from leadership," he added. © Copyright Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or distribution in any form is prohibited without consent from Editor Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. 5N985 Rt. #31, St. Charles, IL. 60175. Phone: (630) 443-3257. Fax: (630) 443-3258. A one-year subscription rate (48 issues) is $397.00. To subscribe, send an e-mail to: Agripulse@aol.com or visit: www.Agri- Pulse.com. Editor's note: For more stories and a free, four-week trial subscription, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com.
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