News

No middle ground as Farm Bill talks grind to a halt

The Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee tells Brownfield there’s little hope for compromise on the nutrition title because there does not seem to be any middle ground.

Congressman Collin Peterson of Minnesota says he and fellow Democrats on the Committee remain steadfastly opposed to Republican proposals for stricter work requirements in the SNAP program as Farm Bill negotiations grind to a halt.

“The reality is, most people are already working.  In one of the meetings I was at, a Majority staff (told) me this is a perception problem, not a real problem.  I said ‘well, now we’re going to legislate on perception?”

Peterson suggests the bigger issue within SNAP has to do with waivers that he says are overdone, even by President Trump.

Chairman Mike Conaway of Texas plans to move the Farm Bill ahead without Ag Committee Democrats, which Peterson calls a mistake.

“He can get out of Committee, but the Senate (Ag Committee) has already rejected what (Republicans) are working on.  (Senate Chair) Pat Roberts is not going to do anything in the SNAP area other than actually add spending that Senator Stabenow wants.”

Conaway says he continues to work in good faith, crafting a bi-partisan, budget-neutral, common-sense Farm Bill.

Peterson counters if he were a betting man, a one-year extension of current legislation is where negotiations are most likely headed.