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Agriculture Panel Germinates Ideas at the Table -- Politico

Posted June 14th, 2012

Agriculture Panel Germinates Ideas at the Table -- Politico

[Article Summarized by Meridian Institute] In this opinion piece, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chairwoman, and Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), the ranking member, of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, say that their committee is the only one in Congress to pass a bipartisan reform bill that both strengthens the economy and cuts the federal deficit. The 2012 Farm Bill, they say, represents significant reform of U.S. agriculture policy while also saving $23 billion. They outline some of the key aspects of the new farm bill: ending four different commodity subsidy programs; strengthening crop insurance in a way that is fair for all farmers in every region and for taxpayers; ensuring the new crop insurance program is based on actual market prices, is targeted only to farmers playing an active role in operations, prohibits millionaires from receiving funds, and caps payments at half of what they are now; elimination of more than 100 different programs and authorizations; streamlining conservation programs from 23 down to 13; improving food assistance programs to decrease fraud and abuse; reauthorization of core research programs and elimination of smaller, duplicative ones; and, creation of an innovative foundation that will leverage private funds to advance food and agricultural innovations. Congress, they argue, must pass a new Farm Bill so that this sector can continue to underpin our economic recovery. “Americans,” they write, “want Congress to create jobs and reduce the deficit. This Farm Bill does both — and in a bipartisan way. It passed out of the Agriculture Committee 16-5. Forty-five senators from both parties have written to the Senate leaders, urging them to bring this bill to the floor. It is time for everyone in Washington to set aside their differences, come sit at the table and pass this long-overdue reform.”