Democrats work to unite on farm bill

Published Friday, July 27, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Democrats expressed confidence today that they will pass a farm bill to continue subsidies for U.S. crops, saying they will overcome Republican opposition.

Democratic leaders beat back a challenge from their own party last night, defeating an amendment by Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., that would have scaled back government payments to farmers.

With that obstacle out of the way, Democrats said they will be able to rally their caucus and even some Republicans to pass the bill despite GOP objections to a provision that would tax certain foreign-owned companies with U.S. subsidiaries. Those taxes would finance food stamps and other nutrition programs included in the legislation.

Facing the GOP revolt, Democratic leaders scrambled yesterday to sweeten the multibillion-dollar bill to please people in their own party who were wavering. Changes included a boost for international nutrition programs.

Votes were expected by midday today. Leaders have touted the bill as an important step toward modernizing farm programs, even though it would leave in place - and in some cases increase - subsidies to producers of major crops at a time of record-high prices in farm country. It contains far less money for conservation and nutrition programs than many Democrats wanted.

"There is something in this bill for everybody to like. There’s probably something in this bill for everybody not to like, but it’s a step in the right direction," said Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., the Agriculture Committee chairman.

The White House has threatened to veto the measure, saying the legislation doesn’t go far enough. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said it misses an opportunity to overhaul the subsidy program.

The bill, indeed, would ban subsidies to farmers whose income averages more than $1 million a year - the current limit is $2.5 million. It also would stop farmers from collecting payments for multiple farm businesses. But an administration proposal would go even further, banning subsidies to farmers with incomes averaging as low as $200,000 and imposing stricter payment limits.

Thursday’s showdown vote was on a proposal by Kind and conservative Republican Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona that was closer to the administration’s plan. The Kind amendment would have reduced subsidies in favor of conservation, aid for specialty crops such fruits and vegetables, and nutrition and rural development programs.

The current farm law, enacted in 2002, expires Sept. 30. The Senate is due to begin its consideration of the legislation in September.