Senate Finance Chairman Baucus has prepared a farm bill compromise and is seeking support from four conferees -- Senate Budget Chairman Conrad, Agriculture ranking member Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Sens. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., a Senate Democratic aide said today.
Under Baucus' proposal, the current Senate bill's increase in nutrition funding would rise from $5.4 billion to $9 billion over 10 years, the increase in energy programs would rise from $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion over five years, and the increase in conservation funding would be trimmed from $4.6 billion in the Senate bill to $3.6 billion. The permanent disaster aid provision would remain at $5 billion over five years and Baucus would make permanent the five-year increase in food stamp benefits in the current bill.
The aide said the programs would be funded through "noncontroversial loophole closures" in tax law, but declined to say whether Baucus still wants to use the codification of the doctrine of economic substance as the main source of increased funding for the farm bill. The aide said he was not sure whether Senate Agriculture Chairman Harkin had been consulted, but that he would be "part of the equation" at some point. The aide did not know whether Baucus had consulted House Agriculture Chairman Peterson, but discussions had been held with House Ways and Means Chairman Rangel. A Conrad aide said Conrad is still talking with Senate, House and administration officials and that there is "no deal" with Baucus. Another Democratic aide said some senators are becoming concerned the administration may strike a deal with the House on the farm bill as it did on the stimulus package and that Baucus' proposal may reflect that concern.National Journal's CongressDaily
