Farm Bill debate begins, amid worries of 'circular firing squad' among traditional supporters

The full House is debating its version of the Farm Bill, but the Rules Committee's decision last night to allow 103 amendments to be considered was expected to push a final vote on the bill into next week, perhaps threatening the tenuous coalition needed to pass the bill and start a conference with the Senate to work out differences in the two versions.

"Most will have just 10 minutes for debate, but as a practical matter, the leadership would have to show a lot more flexibility about the floor schedule to finish the farm bill this week," David Rogers writes for Politico. "The sudden shift upset top members of the House Agriculture Committee, fearful of leaving the giant bill exposed over the weekend. But Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told Politico he was confident still of winning passage."

Still, supporters of the bill "are increasingly worried that the House floor debate . . . will look more like a circular firing squad, with traditional supporters lining up to attack each other in ways that could lead to defeat of the overall bill," Sara Wyant writes for Agri-Pulse, a Washington newsletter.

Farm and nutrition interests, who have historically been allies pushing for farm bill passage, are at odds over the $20.5 billion in food-stamp cuts over the next 10 years," Wyant writes. "For some conservative GOP lawmakers, the cuts contained in H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, aren’t nearly enough. But for many Democrats, whose votes will be needed to pass the bill, they remain adamantly opposed to reductions they say will bump 2 million Americans and 200,000 hungry children out of food and nutrition programs." (Read more)

However, the prospect of a fight between Midwestern and Southern Republicans faded as "Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio) pulled down his amendment challenging a new price-loss program important to Southern crops," Rogers reports. "Environmental groups felt the same twinge as Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) faded in a fight over toughening conservation requirements for farmers benefiting from crop insurance. In both cases, Gibbs and Thompson’s offices said the lawmakers were looking forward to making their cases in conference with the Senate."

UPDATE: Rogers notes that most of the more controversial amendments, such as those on the dairy program, the sugar program and "Republican proposals to add work requirements for those receiving food stamps" will be delayed until next week. However, Lucas told The Hill that quick action on about 40 amendments gave him hope that the bill could pass Thursday.