| Washington, D.C. - The Senate Agriculture Committee could begin work on
a new farm bill as early as next week.
The Senate timetable for the bill was moved up after the House approved
a new bill on a vote of 291-120 last week, said Seth Boffeli, a spokesman
for the Senate Agriculture Committee. The House bill offers $73.5 billion
more than current levels on farm programs over 10 years.
The White House has objected to extra spending and asked that the farm
bill be delayed until the budget picture is more certain in the wake of
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Top senate Republicans, including Charles
Grassley of Iowa and Richard Lugar of Indiana, also have urged a delay.
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia., chairman of the Agriculture Committee, has said
he wants more conservation measures put in a new farm bill. He and Lugar,
the lead Republican on the committee, have agreed on a general set of
principles for the bill, but specifics still must be hammered out.
How far the Senate gets on the bill this year depends on how long
Congress stays in session, Boffeli said. |