House and Senate Ag staff are likely trying to iron out farm bill differences ahead of the Senate’s return next week to save time, according to a key senator. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s optimistic about the process.
Pre-conferencing could speed the farm bill process, but the House version is even less to Democrats’ liking, lacking any delay in SNAP funding penalties for states with high error rates. On top of that, Senator McConnell hasn’t formally announced his return date, which will determine when Ag Republicans can try again to advance their bill. But Grassley says farmers have waited long enough.
Even if Ag Republicans can finally advance their bill, Democrats could deprive it of procedural votes needed on the Senate floor. Republicans fear Democrats are dug in on SNAP and may be betting they can write their own farm bill if they retake the House and/or Senate in the midterm elections.
Barring a breakthrough before then, the third extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expires at the end of this month, so a fourth extension would be needed to keep key farm and nutrition programs from lapsing.
