Farm Bill Vote Delayed

After a week of mixed signals from the major players working to find a compromise on the Farm Bill, it’s now clear that no vote will occur in 2013 on a new 5 year bill. The House voted to extend current policy through January 31, 2014, but the Senate Majority Leader announced he would not allow a vote on the 30 day extension.

The delay is being blamed on a few inches of snow, which closed government offices, keeping the nonpartisan Congressional Budget agency staff away from the office and analysts unable to calculate the cost estimates that lawmakers need to continue their negotiations.

“We’re going to pass it in January,” Senate Ag Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, (D-MI) said.

Some question if the snow day was actually to blame or if the conference committee leadership has yet to agree on the level of reductions in the run away spending on food stamps.