Stabenow to Boehner: Spend one day on rural America

By Ramsey Cox - 09/13/12 03:34 PM ET

With only 17 day left before the agriculture bill expires, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) pleaded with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to allow a vote on the farm bill.

“I’m asking the Speaker and House leadership just take one day for rural America,” Stabenow said on the floor Thursday. “They heard from farmers yesterday ... they took time to come here to give a very clear message to the House Republican leadership: It is time to get this done.

“Frankly it’s past time they got this done.”

Stabenow, the chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the farmers came from around the country to Capitol Hill to tell lawmakers they need assistance now.

“I believe a majority of the House wants to get that done, and I think it’s very important with 17 days left that we remember what this is about,” Stabenow said. “There are 16 million people who work in farm industries.”

The House is scheduled to adjourn next Friday and Stabenow asked Boehner to allow a vote on either the Senate or House version of the farm bill so a conference committee could be formed to iron out differences.