/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
The failure of Congress to pass the 2012 Farm Bill may become the deciding factor in which party controls the U.S. Senate after the November elections. Across the country, Democratic challengers are hammering Republican incumbents over the failure of the House GOP to pass a new bill.
Months of political negotiations came to an end earlier this week when the House of Representatives voted to adjourn without passing a new, five-year farm bill. While the Senate passed their version of the farm bill in May and the House Agriculture Committee passed a draft in July, House leadership has blocked the bill from coming to a vote, fearing a potential revolt from fiscal conservatives and members of the Tea Party.
This failure could seriously jeopardize the Republican Party’s hopes for taking back the Senate in November. Already, Democrats in rural states have started using the farm bill’s failure against their Republican opponents. In North Dakota, Democratic challenger Heidi Heitkamp has attacked opponent Rick Berg (the current at large representative of North Dakota), stating Rep. Berg claimed to support the Farm Bill in North Dakota, but then in Washington voted the party line to cut crop insurance and slash $180 billion from farm programs. Today there is no clear path forward for a Farm Bill and Rep. Berg’s failed leadership on the Farm Bill has led to historic uncertainty for our farmers and ranchers.”
In Montana, Wisconsin, and Indiana, Republican Senate candidates could be hamstrung by their party’s failure to pass a new farm bill. In Indiana, for example, Tea Party candidate Richard Mourdock is being linked by some groups to his caucus’ intransigence in the House.
Overall, the failure of the farm bill has “become a very salient issue in a lot of key battleground races, and it’s highlighted the intransigence and ineffectiveness of House Republicans… and put their misplaced priorities front and center,” said Matt Canter, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee communications director.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmloans.com.
Follow us on: Twitter
Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer