The blame for this goes to Jim Jordan and the Republican Study Committee as well as some progressive Democrats.
The Senate bill would save $25 billion over ten years and it passed in a bi-partisan manner.
In July, The House Ag Committee approved a bill that would save $35 billion and it passed in a bi-partisan manner 35 to 11 .... That is a strong vote. MN Ag Members Peterson and Walz voted for it.
The RSC told the Republican leadership that the savings was not enough. The Club For Growth came out against it. Farm-state Republicans and Democrats pushed for a vote by starting a Discharge Petition but Republicans largely did not want to have to make a vote before the election. Instead they passed a temporary funding bill to keep operations running ... and as I understand it, Congress has repeatedly just "added" a new bill on to the 1949 law ... instead of repealing the 1949 law and replacing it completely. Despite objections from liberal Democrats, the GOP should have had enough votes to pass with a good number of Democrats joining in.
BTW ... outside of the Farm Bill, the sequester will result in $957,885 less funding to provide congregate and home-delivered meals to needy MINNESOTA seniors. WIC will also be impacted.
The blame for this goes to Jim Jordan and the Republican Study Committee as well as some progressive Democrats.
ReplyDeleteThe Senate bill would save $25 billion over ten years and it passed in a bi-partisan manner.
In July, The House Ag Committee approved a bill that would save $35 billion and it passed in a bi-partisan manner 35 to 11 .... That is a strong vote. MN Ag Members Peterson and Walz voted for it.
The RSC told the Republican leadership that the savings was not enough. The Club For Growth came out against it. Farm-state Republicans and Democrats pushed for a vote by starting a Discharge Petition but Republicans largely did not want to have to make a vote before the election. Instead they passed a temporary funding bill to keep operations running ... and as I understand it, Congress has repeatedly just "added" a new bill on to the 1949 law ... instead of repealing the 1949 law and replacing it completely.
Despite objections from liberal Democrats, the GOP should have had enough votes to pass with a good number of Democrats joining in.
BTW ... outside of the Farm Bill, the sequester will result in $957,885 less funding to provide congregate and home-delivered meals to needy MINNESOTA seniors. WIC will also be impacted.