House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said yesterday that the expiring farm bill should get a one-month extension while negotiators work out differences on cuts of food stamps, how to restructure the subsidy programs, and other issues. “I have not seen any real progress on the farm bill. So, if we have got to pass a one-month extension of the farm bill, I think we will be prepared to do that,” Boehner said at his weekly news conference.
Boehner also announced yesterday that the House would begin its Christmas recess, ending its 2013 work, on December 13, making time extremely short for completing negotiations. Boehner is adamant that the House will leave next Friday. “You all know me pretty well; I say what I mean, and I mean what I say,” he said.
Boehner’s remarks came one day after House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R-OK) and the other four principal farm bill conferees indicated “great progress” was being made in the negotiations. Ranking Member Rep. Colin Peterson (D-MN) said yesterday that he did not believe an extension would be necessary, and he expects a final floor vote on a new farm bill in January. The other two negotiators are Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and ranking member Thad Cochran (R-MS).
Negotiations will continue next week, and sources close to the negotiators say they are waiting for Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scores on various provisions before any final decisions are made. More movement in negotiations is expected next week if the CBO scores become available.
