April 25, 2008
House, Senate pass one-week farm bill extension
by Mary Clare Jolonick
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress passed a one-week extension of current farm law Thursday, defying President Bush by trying to find agreement on a new bill.
As negotiations on a farm bill have stumbled, Bush has asked the House and Senate to extend the law for a year or longer. He says the new legislation is too expensive and would not do enough to cut subsidy payments to wealthy farmers in a time of record crop prices.
Farm legislation passed by the House and Senate last year would cost roughly $280 billion over five years, with around two-thirds of the cost going to food stamps and other nutrition programs. Bush threatened to veto both bills.
Negotiators have been arguing for months over how to pay for the bill and still have not agreed. One of the main sticking points has been a tax package the Senate added that would give tax breaks to race horse owners, those who find endangered species on their land and the timber industry. It also would provide $5 billion for farmers who lose crops due to weather.
House members have said many of the breaks don't belong in a farm bill.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said farm-state lawmakers are "very close" to a deal on the bill but it would be impossible to finish it all by May 2, when current law would expire under the new extension.
Harkin said negotiators were discussing adding more nutrition money to the bill. That would be a concession to urban lawmakers such as House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel of New York, who has been charged along with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus with finding extra money for the legislation.
The one-week extension passed by voice vote in the House and Senate. Harkin originally asked for a two-week extension but Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, objected, saying lawmakers have taken too long to write the legislation.
Congress has now extended the law two times in as many weeks. This would be the fifth extension since the law originally expired in September.
White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Bush is expected to sign the newest extension, but reiterated the president's comments that the "continued patchwork of short-term extensions is not serving America's farmers and ranchers well."
In a statement Tuesday, Bush called for a one-year extension and said proposals being discussed by negotiators "would fail several important tests that I have set forth."
Study: 1 in 8 get help at food banks
The Safety Net: Food Stamp Use Soars, and Stigma Fades
USDA: 1 in 7 U.S. Households Struggle for Food
Survey: Food banks under more stress
Senate boosts food stamps as unemployment rises
More Children Than Ever Eat Free This Summer
Neighbor, Can You Spare A Plum?
Woman gives grocery spree to food bank
One family goes from six figures to Medicaid, in no time flat
Economy's effect on donors threatens non-profits
Government able to end hunger in U.S., activist says
Protesters demand easier access to food-stamp offices
WE STILL HAVE BREAD LINES BUT NOW WE CALL THEM FOOD PANTRIES. AND THEY ARE WAY TOO BUSY
Hunger is all around us, even if we choose not to see
1 in 50 American children experiences homelessness
Food banks toss out food linked to peanut recall
State could receive $34M for 3SquaresVT
Food banks take more active role nationwide
Local food pantries seeing many new faces
Increasing food stamp benefits would help kids, economy
More Vermonters will qualify for Food Stamps
Along with new focus, Food Stamps gets new name
Going Hungry in America: How Could it Happen Here?
Author to speak at St. Michael's on hunger in America
Eat Local Challenge to kick off with harvest festival
Free breakfast program expanded
Winter Could Test Energy Math; Rising Heat Costs May Be Last Straw For Family Budgets
From food bank's chief, insight into hungry U.S.
Tons of food waste crams landfills, adds to methane gas
More kids qualify for Vt. lunches
Stormy times for those who need food banks' help
Downturn forces more in U.S. to rely on free food
Food Stamps: Old stereotypes no longer true
One Country's Table Scraps; Another Country's Meal
House, Senate pass one-week farm bill extension
Farm Income Up, but Subsidies Stay
Food-Bank Organizers Face Shortages
Schools Get A Lesson in Lunch Line Economics: Food Costs Unravel Nutrition Initiatives
Hunger Pains: As Economy Slows, Charities Face Tall Order to Feed Needy
A Run on Banks: Food Charities Feel the Pinch
As Jobs Vanish and Prices Rise, Food Stamp Use Nears Record
Farmers seek to expand markets, and improve diets
Supplies Dwindle at Food Pantries as Financing Bill Stalls in Washington
Americans stretching paychecks to the breaking point
Poverty guidelines: Hurting or helping the poor?
Senators edge toward deal on farm bill
