Farm Bill Stalled!
After two weeks of negotiations and debate, the Senate reached an impasse on the Farm Bill and as a result, it has been taken off the Senate Floor until further notice. The stalemate began early in the debate when Senate Majority Leader, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), tried to limit the number and type of amendments that would be offered to the Farm Bill in an effort to ensure that there would be enough time for a vote before the Thanksgiving break. Republican Senators, led by Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) criticized this move, claiming that it would unfairly limit debate on the Farm Bill and block efforts to offer Republican sponsored amendments. Despite efforts to keep the debate focused on the merits of the Farm Bill rather than on partisan politics, it eventually turned into a showdown between Republicans and Democrats.
With Thanksgiving recess bearing down and Senators anxious to get home, Senator Reid filed a motion to limit debate and force a vote on the Farm Bill. However, he did not get enough votes for the motion to pass and the Farm Bill was pulled from the Senate Floor until further notice.
Right now it is unclear when, or if, the Senate will take up the Farm Bill again this year. The Senate is in recess for the Thanksgiving holiday and will return December 3, at which time they will have two weeks to finish all of the pending business before winter recess, which is scheduled to begin December, 17. We will continue to keep you updated as things unfold. For now it looks like the Farm Bill won’t be finished for awhile – just like those Thanksgiving Dinner leftovers.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you again for all of your work on the Farm Bill and throughout the year on behalf of organics.
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