Thune tests votes for farm bill in lame-duck session

By Olivia Hart

Congress faces a Dec. 11 government-funding deadline, 17 unresolved House races and two uncalled Senate races as congressional leaders try to finish a farm bill before the 120th Congress starts early next year.

What has to happen for a farm bill to pass?

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Monday that he wants to find a route to completion, but votes and time will set the limits. “Obviously, there are a lot of things out there that need to be done. I'd like to figure out a pathway to get the farm bill done. But it's all going to be what we have the votes to do and then the time on the clock to do.”

Thune also said Congress needs to fund the government after Dec. 11 to avoid a shutdown. He said he will examine which other measures could attach to that funding legislation, potentially allowing the farm bill to advance with it. No such measure has been identified publicly, and no agreement to attach one was reported.

Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees have committed to trying to finish a farm bill this year. Their parties remain deadlocked over how long certain states can delay paying part of the bill for federal food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Senate Agriculture Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., who initially rejected any delay, offered a one-year postponement as a compromise. Democrats, including ranking member Amy Klobuchar, want at least two years.

Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., said Monday evening that Republicans need further concessions to provide certainty and help farmers. He said many people are hurting and that lawmakers heard that warning in the midterms, while calling for cooperation across party lines.

No state-by-state SNAP cost estimate, crop price, yield, input cost or basis figure accompanies the dispute. No harvested acreage or crop-condition report does either, so the promise of help for farmers cannot be tied to a measured change in farm margins.

The unresolved choice between a one-year and two-year SNAP delay is the first concrete test of bipartisan support.

Why corn growers want E15 action

On Monday, the National Corn Growers Association, the country’s largest corn lobbying group, urged Congress to act immediately on a measure allowing year-round, voluntary U.S. sales of higher ethanol-fuel blends known as E15. The group also called for passage of a farm bill this year.

Michigan farmer and NCGA President Matt Frostic said lawmakers should focus on E15 and the farm bill rather than lame-duck distractions: “They can do that by focusing on getting policy items, like E15 and the farm bill, across the finish line and signed into law this year. Farmers cannot afford further delay.”

• Senate Agriculture Committee: Approved a farm bill in September that includes E15.
• House: Passed a stand-alone E15 measure in May.
• Petroleum opposition: Both bills face opposition over provisions that would change how biofuel-rule exemptions for financially stressed oil refiners are handled under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Those actions show movement on E15, not final enactment of a farm bill. For corn growers, year-round E15 concerns access to a corn-ethanol market rather than a reported change in yields or input costs. No estimates of gallons, corn use, prices or basis accompany the proposal, leaving any effect on farm margins unmeasured.

Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., said Monday that passing a farm bill this year is crucial for farmers and ranchers.

E15 has advanced in both chambers, but petroleum opposition and the absence of quantified farm gains leave its promised benefit uncertain.

How will lame-duck politics determine the outcome?

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., is pressing to delay a Republican Senate leader election scheduled for Tuesday so members can consider the massive defeat of Republican candidates across the country. His request places party leadership choices alongside the farm bill’s remaining timetable.

• Senate: Democrats will hold 54 seats and Republicans 44 in the 120th Congress, with two races yet to be called.
• House: Democrats are set for 254 seats and Republicans 164, with the outcome of 17 races still undetermined.

Both chamber counts are current snapshots rather than final totals because races remain uncalled.

Asked whether he has enough support to be elected GOP leader again, Thune expects an engaged discussion among Republicans on Tuesday, with every member able to weigh in. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., also face political headwinds from members of their own parties.

Asked whether he has enough votes to become the next House speaker, Jeffries said the answer would be known next Wednesday.

As Dec. 11 approaches, the next test is whether Thune can turn his proposed pathway into enough votes, identify a funding measure and bridge the SNAP timing dispute; otherwise, the farm bill and pending E15 action will move into the 120th Congress.