We have written before that we'd like to see more conservation, support for local and regional food systems, nutrition programs, rural development, renewable energy, and limits on farm payment programs in the new Farm Bill. Others may not share this agenda, given the online left's new love affair with the WTO and free trade when it comes to farm programs, but it's what seems best for Minnesota's farm country. This is, after all, where we live.
CQ Politics looks at the political stakes at play in the writing of the new bill in Democrats Eye Politics of Farm Bill:
Now the House is knee-deep in writing a new farm bill (HR 2419), and the outlook isn’t as rosy as it was earlier this year. While House Agriculture Committee members squabble over money and plot to fend off threats from outside the panel to overhaul agricultural policy, Pelosi and her circle face a bigger dilemma: The outcome of this year’s farm bill could make or break the reelection of vulnerable freshman Democrats.
There are 42 new freshmen in the House this year — including many with rural constituencies — and nine sit on the farm panel.
That means leadership will have to weigh the re-election needs of new members such as Tim Walz of Minnesota, whose constituency includes many farmers used to collecting subsidies, against those such as Arizona’s Gabrielle Giffords who would bring millions more back to her district if some farm payments were redirected to conservation programs, according to a new report by Environmental Defense.
The package offered to House Democratic leadership by Environmental Defense? Toss progressive moderates like Tim Walz, along with the farmers in their districts, overboard in favor of hypothetical gains elsewhere. Thanks for caring, Environmental Defense!
Joe Bodell recently defined "progressive" as being willing to make policy from the bottom-up, listening to the grassroots. Tim Walz held 14 well-publicized, open meetings throughout his district to ask people living in towns like Plainview and St. James what they wanted. His comments to CQPolitics reflect that:
Walz acknowledges the tough spot that he and his leadership are in, as they strive to write a bill that balances an overhaul with subsidies. But he emphasized the importance of payments to his district.
“I will always make my argument based on what’s best for farmers, not what’s best for my political party,” he said. “It would be foolish to say this isn’t an important piece of legislation for me.”
He has been working hard on it. Fortunately, it sounds as if congressional leadership isn't going to trade the safety net for midwestern farmers in exchange for ED's gambit:
Ultimately, House leaders are most concerned with adding the farm bill to the 110th Congress’ list of accomplishments, so they probably will have to bend to political realities.
A compromise that supports some version of the classic farm subsidies while also boosting spending on conservation, nutrition and energy is likely to be the best they can do this year, aides say.
Sounds like something close to our own wish list.
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