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Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said he would try to work with Senate Republicans over the Thanksgiving recess to find a compromise on the farm bill that is stalled in the Senate. Harkin told reporters he hoped to come to “an amicable solution” with Republicans after a motion by Senate Democrats to close debate on the farm bill failed Friday in a 55-42 vote that fell mostly along party lines. “This is just the first round,” said Harkin, who told reporters at a press conference that he still hoped the Senate could pass its bill and start a conference with the House, which approved a farm bill in July. Senate Democrats and Republicans have been battling for more than a week over how to move forward with the bill. Harkin and other Democrats on Friday blamed Republicans for tying up the process by offering amendments to the farm bill that are not relevant to U.S. agricultural policy, such as a measure related to providing driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. GOP senators countered that a procedural move by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) prevented them from offering amendments to the bill. Reid “filled the tree” by offering all of the possible amendments and second-degree amendments possible, which prevented Republicans from offering their own amendments. In a floor speech before the vote was taken, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he was disappointed by the process surrounding the farm bill, but insisted one would still move through the Senate. “The Senate will pass a farm bill — that is certain — but only after an open and fair debate on the Senate floor,” McConnell said. He noted that the 2002 farm bill passed after about a week on the floor after attempts to limit amendments on that bill failed. Only four Republicans crossed lines to vote in favor of cloture on the $280 billion bill: Sens. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Gordon Smith (Ore.), Norm Coleman (Minn.) and John Thune (S.D.). In his floor speech, Harkin again charged that the White House had asked Senate Republicans to delay the bill so that President Bush would not have to deliver on his threat to veto the legislation, something Harkin said would be politically unpopular in rural America. “I see the heavy hand of the White House behind what’s going on here,” Harkin said. |
