Farm Bill Veto Worries

The Bush administration has changed its stance on farm bill funding, according to farm bill lobbyist Larry Mitchell, opposing a tax change it recommended several years ago.

The House and Senate are now beginning to reconcile their versions of America’s next five-year farm bill, passed in July and December respectively, with Senate conferees being named earlier this week.

A major issue for the conference committee to reconcile will be funding, as the Bush administration has threatened to veto the bill if it raises taxes.

Mitchell, former CEO of the American Corn Growers Association and former deputy administrator for farm programs at USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in the Clinton administration, currently represents the American Corn Growers Association, among other farm groups, at Kimmitt, Senter, Coates & Weinfurter.