Lawmakers continue to work out a compromise on the dairy program–the biggest barrier to action on the new, five-year farm bill, according to those close to the negotiations. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) said this week he had not accepted any deal yet but that he and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) had talked Wednesday and were likely to settle on some sort of compromise ending the impasse over how to refashion government support for the dairy industry.
“While the proposed concept at least appears to move in the right direction and may be something I could reluctantly support, without further details, a lot still needs to be worked out,” Peterson told reporters on Wednesday. Peterson also said he is hopeful that the bill could be finalized next week, paving the way for House leadership to bring the bill to the floor the week of January 27 and be finished before the House adjourns two days later for the Republican retreat. Since President Obama is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union on the evening of January 28 that could mean the vote would be on the morning of January 29.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a speech in San Antonio this week that he is running out of patience with Congress over inaction on the farm bill, but he declined to speak about the compromise being worked out on the dairy program that continues to delay completion of the bill. Vilsack also warned that if Congress does not act soon, the Congressional Budget Office will need to re-evaluate the baseline spending levels for agriculture which could further complicate attempts to finish the bill. “This is a bill that is important to the country and it needs to be done,” he said.
