Senate Ag leaders come together on farm bill

The Democratic and Republican leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee have come together to agree on a draft 2012 farm bill, which establishes farm subsidies for the next five years.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and ranking member Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) released their draft on Friday and said a markup will happen April 25.

The farm bill would reduce deficits by $23 billion, $10 billion less than called for in the budgets of President Obama and $8 billion less than called for in that of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

Stabenow and Roberts agree that direct payments to farms, which are granted whether or not farmers produce anything, should be eliminated. They propose expanding access to crop insurance to make up for this.

The changes are already being criticized by longtime opponents of farm programs.

“Instead of recognizing our nation’s dire fiscal situation and offering up significant savings when farm incomes are at record levels, the Agriculture Committee doubled down on bloated farm programs,” Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense said.

The bill also includes cuts to food stamps favored by the GOP. It strengthens requirements on education and stops liquor stores and tobacco shops from accepting food stamps.

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