NACIA Farm Bill Update
2/27/08

Things are just getting rolling here in Washington in regards to the Farm Bill, as Members of Congress and Senators are just getting back to Washington after the President’s Day Recess.

At the conclusion of the break, news reports projected a confident Chairman Peterson, but quotes from Chairman Harkin pointed more towards a lack of faith that the Farm Bill could be completed, and a resulting extension or current law through the end fiscal year 2009 (next October).

Evidently after a leadership meeting held last night, the two Chambers have reached an agreement that the amount of spending over baseline will be $10 billion, but it has been reported that some Senators are still seeking a higher level of spending.

Even though House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rangel (D-NY) has expressed frustration regarding the task of producing Farm Bill revenue sources, he has submitted some proposals for the Agriculture Committee to consider, and reportedly, along with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus, was part of the leadership meeting last night.

There still remains the problem of where the money will come from, especially considering the Administration’s opposition to tax increases. Even closing some of the “loopholes” mentioned in the President’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request may not be acceptable, although allegedly USDA Secretary Schafer and Deputy Secretary Conner have been more open to negotiating than they have in the past on these and other issues the Administration has underlined as points of contention. Chairman Rangel and Chairman Baucus have been tasked with working with the Administration to determine acceptable offsets this week, apparently with a Friday deadline.

If an overall bill is not signed prior to the March 15 expiration of current law, Chairman Peterson has been reported as mentioning another short term extension, allowing staff to continue working through the Easter recess, the last two weeks of March.

We will continue to monitor the negotiations and will keep you updated as any thing of interest occurs.

We wanted to let you know that for your convenience, you can pay your 2008 NACIA dues online. To streamline the dues process, we are transitioning to a first quarter annual dues request. If you paid your 2007 dues during the subsequent quarters last year, we apologize. However, this is necessary to continue to improve NACIA as an organization and enhance its ability to better serve crop insurance agents and act as the only voice speaking solely on behalf of agents. Your support is vital during this tenuous time, as the crop insurance program is being looked at as a funding source for other Farm Bill provisions.

Hope all is well, and if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Brent W. Gattis
NACIA Washington Representative