Working under the gun, Senate and House negotiators are exchanging proposals to resolve intractable disputes over the 2018 farm bill, with the hope of agreement as early as today. While the “four corners,” as the four lead negotiators are known, are working in private, there are last-minute calls from outside for reform.
With an agreement before Thanksgiving, there would be sufficient time for staff workers to assemble the final version of the $87-billion-a-year legislation for a vote as soon as next week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is determined to enact the farm bill, which includes his provision to legalize industrial hemp, before the end of the lame duck session. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi included the farm bill on her list of must-do legislation last week.
A source close to the farm bill negotiations said the four corners have exchanged proposals daily and are getting closer to an overall agreement. A lobbyist said the target for agreement appeared to be midweek. According to published reports, House Agriculture chairman Michael Conaway has backed away from a proposal to require an estimated 7 million “work-capable” adults ages 18 to 59 to work at least 20 hours a week or spend equivalent time in job training or workfare to qualify for food stamps.
Thirteen free-market and conservative groups asked lawmakers to oppose a farm bill that would “egregiously expand taxpayer subsidies.” They pointed to provisions approved by the House last summer to loosen eligibility rules for farm subsidies and to put so-called reference prices on an escalator that could lead to larger subsidy spending. “Quite simply, some of the House subsidy provisions reflect a complete disregard for taxpayers, fiscal responsibility, and sound policy, and are unacceptable,” said the groups in a letter.
Separately, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said President Trump “should reject” the farm bill if it doesn’t include her language to refund $73 million that dairy farmers paid in premiums for the insurance-like Margin Protection Program. The refund is part of the Senate bill but needs approval by House negotiators. The MPP is widely considered one of the failures of the 2014 farm policy law.