| Washington, D.C. - The Senate Agriculture Committee launched into work
on the farm bill Tuesday, with members divided over not just policy but
whether they should even move forward at a time of economic uncertainty.
Democrats urged fast action to aid-strapped farmers, while Republicans
said there's no need to hurry and complained about the lack of spending
estimates available for each section of the bill. The proposal would spend
a total of $175 billion when projected out over 10 years, but the
provisions of the bill would last only five years.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Ia., said in an
interview after the meeting that he intends to work through Friday this
week and finish up committee action by the end of next week, with floor
action possible if Congress stays in session through December.
"We will finish this thing next week unless there are deliberate
attempts to slow this down," he said.
The committee did approve after little debate sections of the bill
dealing with forestry and energy, including several new initiatives such
as a grant and loan program to help set up farmer-owned renewable energy
cooperatives that produce electricity.
Members of Congress have been arguing all fall over whether there is a
need to move on the farm bill, which does not expire until September of
next year.
Harkin formally put forth his proposal Tuesday, but members may be able
to choose among a smorgasbord of other ideas, including one from Sen.
Richard Lugar, R-Ind., that would give farmers money to buy revenue
insurance.
The House already has approved its version of a farm bill despite
entreaties from the Bush administration that action be postponed until
it's more clear how much money can be spent on farming.
In the Senate, Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., has been pushing
Harkin to get the bill through committee despite problems getting
estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, which returned to its
offices only recently after the anthrax scare.
House Agriculture Committee leaders on both sides of the aisle
applauded the Senate committee for beginning action on the bill.
"We are encouraged by the continued work of the Senate Ag
Committee because we believe we need a completed farm bill this
year," said a statement from Chairman Larry Combest, R-Texas, and
Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Texas. |