*~* FARM BILL REFORM FAILED yesterday *~*

[underpants]

The Senate today blocked an amendment that would cut farm subsidies and replace them with stronger crop insurance for farmers.

By a 58 to 37 vote, the Senate killed the amendment to the bulky farm bill proposed by Sens. Richard Lugar and Frank Lautenberg. Many senators from farm states said the amendment moved too far, too fast.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/news-desk/2007/12/11/farm-bill-reform-fails.html

Senate rejects bid to scrap farm program
http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKN1151950520071212
Senators defeated the so-called "Fresh Act" 37-58, which would have completely overhauled crop subsidies that date to the Depression era. Votes are expected in coming days on proposals to put a "hard" cap on subsidies per farm and to deny payments to wealthy Americans.


Indiana Republican Richard Lugar said the $286-billion Senate farm bill "does not provide meaningful reform" of crop supports. Eight percent grain, cotton and soybean farmers get 58 percent of payments, said Lugar.

Instead, Lugar and New Jersey Democrat Frank Lautenberg proposed insurance policies to protect all growers from a steep drops in revenue or yields. They also wanted to eliminate the $5.2 billion paid annually in "direct" payments. Continued...




Despite a loss, progress seen on farm subsidy reform
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/12/MN58TS60R.DTL

(12-12) 04:00 PST Washington - -- The Senate rejected an overhaul of farm subsidies Tuesday, but the 37-58 vote - and support for radical reform from California Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer - represents one of the biggest moves against crop subsidies in the 75-year history of farm programs.

More key votes to whittle away at the subsidies are expected, starting Wednesday.

Second-ranking Senate Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois, Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Robert Menendez of New Jersey all voted yes, along with GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, second-ranking Republican Jon Kyl of Arizona, and Jim DeMint of South Carolina.

"A bunch of very interesting senators decided fundamental reform is a good idea," said Rick Swartz, a coordinator of the left-right coalition of anti-poverty, environmental, taxpayer, development, minority farmer and public health groups opposing the farm bill. "These are very serious people in real leadership positions."

More tests lie ahead. The biggest expected today would limit payments to $250,000 a year to any farm. Another amendment would limit subsidies to farmers earning less than $750,000 a year. Even the staunchest supporters of crop subsidies are worried that widespread publicity about huge farming operations getting millions of dollars of subsidies is jeopardizing support for farm programs.

[1corona4u]

1. Sheesh.............

The farm bill did not fail, an amendment did. The farm bill passed last week, with provisions for 20 amendments per side. This was one of them.



Senate Farm Bill May Carry Renewable Fuels Provision
The Senate on Tuesday was expected to spend much of the day debating an amendment to the 2007 farm bill that would make deep cuts to federal supports and expand crop insurance.

But to make up for lost time, Senate leaders may accept, without a vote, an amendment by Pete V. Domenici , R-N.M., mirroring a key provision of the stalled energy bill. The amendment would greatly expand the amount of biofuels to be blended with gasoline in the future.

The amendment to cut farm subsidies, sponsored by Sens. Richard G. Lugar , R-Ind., and Frank R. Lautenberg , D-N.J., was widely expected to fail. Critics said it would make policy changes that are simply too drastic.

“It just moves too far, too fast,” said Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin , D-Iowa, though he added there are components of Lugar’s proposal he agrees with.

Under Lugar’s amendment, traditional farm subsidies would be replaced by crop insurance that would cover either 85 percent of a farmer’s expected crop revenue, or 80 percent of a farm’s five -year average adjusted gross revenue.

The amendment also would create optional farmer savings accounts. Instead of eliminating federal subsidies immediately, it would allow farmers to receive transition payments phased out over the next five years, which would be deposited into their accounts and be available if crop prices dropped.

About $2 billion saved from the subsidy cuts would be reinvested in various nutrition programs, with another $1 billion shifted to conservation programs, among other farm-related initiatives.

The Lugar amendment was among the 40 amendments — 20 from each side of the aisle — permitted in the deal struck by Senate leaders late last week on the bill.

[underpants]

3. Whoops

sorry got a little excited there

thanks

[acmavm]

2. There's an election coming up. Does anyone seriously think

that either side is going to cut the welfare to the farmers before then????

[TwilightGardener]

4. Curious as to how our illustrious farm-state Senators voted on this--

do they have the guts to deny subsidies? I'm betting no.