Senators blamed for farm bill expiration

Sunday marks the end of the opportunity for Congress to deliver an “on-time farm bill.” It appears politics again got in the way of legislation needed to offer certainty for farmers in a growing uneasy environment of turbulent trade relations and crashing commodity prices.

The House broke for its recess Friday afternoon before the House and Senate agreed on renewing the farm bill, leaving the bill to expire. House agricultural leaders pointed blame at the Senate, as it now appears a bill may wait to get finalized until after this fall’s elections during the lame duck. Earlier in the week ahead of the expiration, the four farm bill principals released a statement confirming they’re “still at the negotiating table,” but the tone Friday from House Republicans turned more accusatory of allowing the bill to lapse.

Rep. Ralph Abraham (R., La.), a member of the farm bill conference committee and House Agriculture Committee, went deeper into his criticisms of the Senate’s actions holding up a farm bill solution ahead of the deadline.

“Sadly, America’s farmers have been caught up in the political games of the swamp. Each time we think we have an agreement, Sen. [Debbie] Stabenow and Senate Democrats move the goal posts, asking for ridiculous things like crop insurance for roof top gardens and other urban farm priorities. They have put at risk vital agriculture programs that rural America depends on all to tow the party line and delay as much legislative business as possible in hopes they’ll retake Congress in the midterm elections. The people should not have to suffer because of Washington’s political games,” Abraham said in a statement.

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