Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam isnt taking sides in the Capitol Hill battle over Congresss $957 billion 2012 farm bill, which he expects will be neatly wrapped up following the fall elections -- in spite of calls for the legislation to be quickly addressed.
The bill, more of a pressing issue for Midwest states impacted by drought, is mostly important for Florida as a means to provide university research funding, and protection against invasive species and crop disease.
Putnam appeared confident Tuesday, addressing reporters in his Tallahassee Capitol office that many of his former colleagues will be able to cobble together a plan between the elections and start of the next Congress in January.
Congress is going to have to do something because when the bill expires, it will automatically revert to a Depression-era program that is not acceptable to anyone, Putnam said. My prediction is that some point after the election, this will all be folded into whatever comes out of that lame duck session.
U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, who chairs the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry, is among 62 members from both sides of the aisle who have called on House leadership to bring the 2012 farm bill to the floor before the lawmakers take off for the primary election and party conventions.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who has criticized aspects of the plan, is expected to bring forward drought-disaster aid next week but leave the rest of the massive legislation until after the coming five-week recess.
While the bill expires in September, there are expectations that approval of the entire bill will wait until after the election.
The bill could result in Democrats voting for cuts to the federal food stamp program and conservatives in rural districts having to oppose aid for farmers.
Conservatives have also expressed problems with the cost of both the House proposal and the Senates approved bill that cuts farm subsidies and food stamps while it overhauls the financially challenged U.S. Postal Service, potentially closing offices or ending Saturday service.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
