By Ryan Hanrahan
Bloomberg Government’s Rachel Umansky-Castro reported that “the farm bill is headed once again for a preliminary vote needed before it can reach the full Senate floor, where it would likely face a tough road to passage as Democrats continue to oppose it in its current form.“
“Senators on the Agriculture Committee say the massive legislative package likely has enough votes to advance during Wednesday’s markup now that Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who was absent for several months due to illness, has returned,” Umansky-Castro reported. “But Democrats remain unwilling to support the bill without changes related to cost shifts for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.”
Politico’s Jordain Carney and Meredith Lee Hill reported that “Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), who serves with McConnell on the Agriculture and Appropriations committees, told reporters Monday he expects McConnell to be in the Senate this week for ‘key’ votes — including one in the Agriculture panel Wednesday on the farm bill.”
“The senator’s staff told senior Republicans he would attend the planned Wednesday panel vote on the farm bill, which stalled earlier this summer amid his absence, according to three people with direct knowledge of the matter who were also granted anonymity,” Carney and Lee Hill reported. “McConnell mentioned finishing the farm bill as one of his priorities during his remaining time in the Senate.”
Source : illinois.edu