Senate Refuses To Cut Farm Subsidies

Too bad this bill is being debated during a presidential campaign, with a primary in farm-reliant Iowa occurring soon. Though, there is always some reason politicians seem to find to excuse their lack of willpower. From paying attention, this was the closest to real (and much needed) reform in the farm omnibus bill in a long, long time.

The U.S. Senate blocked the first of several planned attempts Tuesday to slash farm subsidies in the $286 billion farm bill.

The Senate rejected, 58-37, an amendment by Sens. Richard Lugar (R., Ind.) and Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.) that would have phased out most farm subsidies and replaced them with stronger crop insurance for all farmers. The money saved would have been shifted to nutrition and conservation programs designed to protect environmentally sensitive farmland.

[snip]
Mr. Lugar said current government farm programs benefit the wealthiest farmers and should be scaled back as crop prices are hitting all-time highs.

Supporters of the legislation are pushing for final Senate passage before lawmakers adjourn for the year. The five-year bill would extend and expand crop and dairy subsidies along with popular nutrition aid programs. Most of those programs have been operating under a temporary extension since the last five-year farm law expired Sept. 30.

[snip]
The Senate is expected to vote later this week on an amendment sponsored by Sens. Byron Dorgan (D., N.D.) and Charles Grassley (R., Iowa) that would limit overall farm payments to $250,000 yearly per married couple. The current limit is $360,000. Southern lawmakers have traditionally opposed attempts to limit the payments because crops grown in that region, such as rice and cotton, are more expensive to grow
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A separate amendment offered by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) would bar farmers making more than $750,000 a year from receiving government payments. The overall bill would limit the amount of subsidies paid to those who don't make a large portion of their income on farming but puts no new limits on farmers.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) indicated Tuesday that an expanded renewable fuels mandate for gasoline production would be part of the farm bill. A similar provision is included in stalled energy legislation, and supporters want to include the language in the farm bill in case the energy bill does not pass.

The amendment, sponsored by Sens. Pete Domenici (R., N.M.) and John Thune (R., S.D.) would require 36 billion gallons of biofuels a year be blended with gasoline by 2022.


[From Senate Defeats Amendment To Cut Farm Subsidies - WSJ.com]

So, status quo until 2013. Bleh.