Bipartisan group of lawmakers press for quick farm bill consideration

By Vicki Needham - 05/15/12 06:43 PM ET

Nearly half of the Senate on Tuesday nudged leadership on the need to quickly pass the farm bill to spur job creation and help the broader economic recovery.

A bipartisan group led by Sens. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) teamed up with 40 other lawmakers in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) calling on them to schedule floor time as soon as possible for the measure.

"This sets an example of how Senators can come together in a bipartisan way to craft meaningful, yet fiscally responsible, policy," they wrote.

"We believe there is strong support in the full Senate to consider the bill in a fair and open manner that allows senators the opportunity to offer amendments," they said.

Cantwell stressed on Tuesday that that the farm bill needs to be the next piece of legislation to hit the floor as part of a congressional job-creation arsenal.

"This bill is huge for the economy," she told reporters.

There are nearly 16 million agriculture-related jobs, according to a government analysis.

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.).

The Senate Agriculture Committee has approved a measure 16-5 on April 26.

The bill also streamlines conservation programs and helps prevent fraud and abuse in nutrition programs. It also would ensure that the programs don't expire.

Last week, farm groups sent a similar letter with the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and 125 other agricultural organizations urging quick action.

"The clock is ticking on our opportunity to get a farm bill done in 2012," said Jerry Kozak, president and chief executive of NMPF.

"We appreciate the display of bipartisan effort by senators from across the country to move this legislation forward.”