U.S. Government Shuts Down in Budget Impasse While Farm Bill Expires
Political Turmoil in Washington Leaves American Farmers without a Farm Bill
By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
On Tuesday, for the first time in nearly two decades the U.S. federal government has plunged into a partial government shutdown. Congress gridlocked on U.S. President Barack Obama’s health care policy, which stalled a temporary funding bill, forcing about 800,000 federal employees off the job.
Congress failed to evade the first partial government shutdown in 17 years. The last shut down occurred under President Bill Clinton from Dec. 5, 1995 to Jan 6. 1996. The partial shutdown forces national parks and museums to closed, as well as and most government departments. Essential services including Border Patrol agents and most food inspectors will continue to work.
It is unclear how long before the impasse will be broken. The situation is in a state of influx. Republicans stand firm that they were elected to dismantle ‘Obamacare’. On the other hand, Democrats want to continue to go full steam ahead on rolling out Obama’s health care law. Some experts say that the Republicans stand to lose the most in this political upheaval, just as they did during the last partial government shutdown in 1995 to 1996.
Farm Bill Woes Continue…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture was hit with a double whammy; it had to shut down its services today because of the federal government budget impasse and the Farm Bill expired. Congress has struggled to replace the 2008 extension of the legislation, which expired Sept. 30. Permanent law of the 1950s farm measure is now in effect.
The farm bill expired again, despite the Senate passing its farm bill in June and the House passing its version mid-July without a nutrition title. At the time, the Senate appointed conferees which would reconcile both versions of the bill, while House leaders said they wanted to pass the nutrition portion of the bill before appointing conferees. The House did end up passing the nutrition portion late September, which cut $40 billion over ten years from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps. Two days before the farm bill was set to expire, the House added the nutrition title with the farm provisions.
The government shutdown stalls progress on reaching a new Farm Bill deal. Farmers are yet again left in limbo, awaiting action on a new permanent law, while farm lobby groups continue to push to get a conference. The American Soybean Association lobby released a statement addressed to Congress. “It’s time for our elected officials to remember who they represent and get to work passing a farm bill that works for American farmers,” said ASA President Danny Murphy. Farmers expect Congress to work out their differences and deliver a new farm bill.