Boozman to Retry Farm Bill Vote in September After 10-11 Committee Defeat
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Aug 6
Boozman to Retry Farm Bill Vote in September After 10-11 Committee Defeat
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Aug 6
Summary
John Boozman said the Senate Agriculture Committee will reconvene in the first week of September to vote again on the same farm bill after Thursday’s failed markup.
The package stalled 10-11 because Republican absences left Boozman needing Democratic support, which collapsed over a dispute on when states must begin sharing SNAP benefit costs.
Democrats want a 2-year delay to that requirement, while Boozman offered 1 year plus other bipartisan items; Amy Klobuchar said the committee’s open recess showed Republicans now recognize flaws in the policy.
Boozman said farm groups broadly back the bill and predicted Democrats will face pressure from rural constituents, but he also said passing it through Congress and onto the president’s desk before the midterms would take a “miracle.”