|
|
Let's get ready to rumbleBy Seymour Klierly Like a prize fight in Las Vegas, political heavy-weights are gloving up for battle royale over the farm bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continues to demand increased funding for her pet projects, and further demands that they be paid for using farm program dollars. The nutrition title of the latest proposal has increased from $9.5 billion in new money to $10.4 billion. Her most recent edict, issued from on high, directed her committee chairman Collin Peterson to find money for a salmon recovery project. This, too, will be paid on the backs of farmers. In another corner is the soon to be former President Bush clinging to any last opportunity to have his voice heard in this debate. The president recently renewed his veto threat in a very public and very scripted speech in the White House Rose Garden. He labeled the farm bill proposal as "bloated" and criticized what he calls a lack of reform in the payment limits proposal...which, as of press time, has not been shared publicly. This farm bill saga may be easier to understand if the only two pugilists in the ring were Pelosi and Bush; however, there are a few more contenders itching to get involved. House Ag Ranking Member Bob Goodlatte has been an enigma in this entire debate. While his committee's other Republican members have criticized cuts to the commodity title, Goodlatte has at least passively agreed to them. Rumors are spreading that his rank and file committee members are frustrated with his approach. In yet another corner is the dynamic duo of Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus and Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad. This tag team has paired up to push, at all costs, a permanent disaster program endorsed by the National Farmers Union. Their initial proposal was met by strong opposition from House members, but the pair has been successful in keeping the program mainly intact throughout this process. Another corner of this fight finds a growing contingent of members who are unhappy, not only with the process of Speaker Pelosi writing the bill, but also with the fact that production agriculture is bearing too much of the financial burden. Senator Pat Roberts, Congressmen Jerry Moran, Randy Neugebauer, and Frank Lucas have made it clear to fellow conferees that enough is enough. They've criticized the leadership of the conference committee for cutting crop insurance programs by more than $5.7 billion and taking billions more out of the commodity title. Not only that, but there's a new proposal to charge a $50 fee to every producer who receives payments from the FSA office. The new fee proposal may be the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back for many members. Never before has strong agriculture leadership been needed. Senate Ag Chairman Tom Harkin is the appointed chairman of the conference but has been either unable or unwilling to organize or control the debate. Numerous official conference meetings have been scheduled, only to be postponed at the last minute. When the conference actually does meet, the sessions turn out to be nothing more than a pontificating session. The conference has not held one substantial vote. With all of these divergent opinions in one ring, this farm bill debate looks less and less like a title fight, and more and more like a circus. 5/5/08 Date: 4/30/08
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2011. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
