Farm Bill Negotiators Say They Have Agreement

Mary Clare Jalonick
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Negotiators on a five-year, $300 billion farm bill say they have reached a tentative agreement on the legislation and it will be considered by the House and Senate next week.

The Bush administration has objected to the bill. The White House says it seems unlikely that Congress will pass farm legislation the president can sign. President Bush has said the bill is “bloated” with farmer subsidies in a time of record crop prices and is too expensive.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said after meetings Wednesday that the negotiating is finished, but he acknowledged that some minor issues remain unresolved.

None of the lawmakers would provide details of the final agreement, the latest of several proposed frameworks that have been renegotiated after the White House or other members of Congress signaled opposition.

Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota said Wednesday’s agreement moved Congress closer to the White House on the amount of government subsidies that would be directed to wealthy farmers, an issue that has been a sticking point for months.

As of Tuesday, negotiators were considering eliminating some government payments to individuals who make more than $750,000 in farm income annually, which would be closer to the White House’s proposal on limiting subsidies. A congressional aide said Wednesday the $750,000 cap remained in the final agreement.

The Bush administration originally proposed a cap for those who make more than $200,000 in annual gross income, but has indicated it could accept a limit of $500,000. As of last week, negotiators were considering a $950,000 income cap on farm income.

The $750,000 cap could also be seen as a $1.5 million cap for a married couple, as the payments are attributed to individuals.

While lawmakers met privately in attempts to appease Bush, his administration worked to rally conservatives who oppose the bill.

Grover Norquist, president of the anti-tax group Americans for Tax Reform, said an administration official criticized the bill at a breakfast attended by conservatives Wednesday morning.

Norquist said a veto of the farm bill would be popular among the conservative ranks and could help the president solidify his party’s position this November. Conservatives believe “this is a fight worth having,” said Norquist.

Two-thirds of the legislation are nutrition programs, including food stamps. Lawmakers agreed last month to provide more than $10 billion extra over 10 years for those programs.