Kansas Senator Pat Roberts, who expects to chair the Agriculture Committee beginning in January, told National Journal, “It is not productive at all to open up the farm bill.” He spoke in response to concerns that he would open the 2014 farm law to seek larger cuts in food stamp spending. Roberts, who voted against the law, has said it set support prices too high for some crops. Roberts declined to discuss the committee agenda for the new session of Congress until Senate chairmanships are decided formally and he has met committee members to discuss priorities. “No committee chairman will go into the wilderness and chop left and right,” he told National Journal.
“My first priority in the new Republican Senate is to repeal and replace Obamacare, a priority I know is shared by many of my newly elected colleagues,” Roberts said in a statement after meeting incoming Republican senators. On election night, Roberts said he heard a message from voters – “I will be bold, I will be conservative and I will be constructive.” Besides Agriculture, Roberts is a member of the Finance, Health, Rules and Ethics committee.