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Ag group leader concerned about House Speaker stalemate

An agricultural group’s President and CEO is hoping the House of Representatives can soon select their new Speaker.

Jim Mulhern with National Milk Producers Federation tells Brownfield the six votes taken before today failed to make Kevin McCarthy the speaker, and he’s concerned the disagreements within the majority party might make it harder to pass good agricultural policy. “We’re going to get a Speaker, but this doesn’t portend good things, I think, for the legislative agenda moving into the new Congress. This, I think, sets a challenging tone for policy debates as we move into major issues like the farm bill.”

Mulhern says if the bad blood that is occurring right now continues into the new Congress, it will be challenging to come up with a bipartisan farm bill on time. “I think this increases the likelihood that we don’t complete a farm bill on time by September 30th, and it could take into later in the year or perhaps even into next year before we can get it done.”

Mulhern is also concerned about farm labor and workforce shortages that were not addressed by the last Congress.

Another midday vote is scheduled (Thursday) in the House to select a Speaker.

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