WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2012- National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson sent a letter to President Barack Obama today asking him to include the farm bill in legislation being negotiated to avoid the “fiscal cliff.”
Noting that the last farm bill has already expired, Johnson added “the costs of a short-term extension of a farm bill will be high, and the legislative effort required to pass an extension is just as great as the work needed to pass a five-year farm bill.”
Although the farm bills passed by the Senate and the House Agriculture Committee cut spending by $23 billion and $35 billion, respectively, and “there are other differences between the two versions” of the bill, Johnson said the committee chairs and ranking members “have indicated their willingness to compromise.”
“Most important, the two versions of the farm bill show bipartisan support for sensible and responsible spending reductions, and a compromise should be passed and signed into law this year,” he said.
To view the letter, click here.
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