Harkin: Congress likely to extend Farm Bill to 2009

The 2002 Farm Bill expires on March 15, and since negotiations might not yield compromise between Congress and the White House in time, the "most likely" outcome is an extension of the 2002 version through at least 2009, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, told Peter Shinn of Brownfield Network.

In Shinn's exclusive interview Sunday night, Harkin blamed the Bush administration for the impasse and noted the Senate passed its version of the bill with 79 votes, which could have been higher since “four people were out running for President.”Earlier in the week, new U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer and Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner suggested the Bush administration might be open to compromise, but Harkin said negotiations have not reflected that conciliatory language.

“Oh, I’m always encouraged by it, but every time we sit down nothing ever happens and we’ve been sitting down for the last couple of weeks,” Harkin said. “There’s got to be some movement from the White House and I have not seen that yet.” While Harkin said the extension seems likely, he said he has not given up on a new Farm Bill just yet. (Read more)