CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
June 12, 2012 – 10:52 p.m.
Reid Sets Up First Votes on Farm Bill
By Philip Brasher and Niels Lesniewski, CQ Staff
Senate Majority Leader
Reid’s move Tuesday will allow votes on proposals by
The votes probably will be on motions to table — and thus kill — those amendments, said Michigan Democrat
The continuing debate between the two parties over amendments suggests that floor consideration of the $969 billion farm policy measure (
Earlier Tuesday, Minority Leader
The GOP amendment requests include proposals related to financial derivatives, non-navigable waters and work safety rules for children.
“The biggest threat to farmers in Kentucky and across America are this administration’s job-killing regulations,” McConnell said. “That’s why Republicans are calling for votes on common-sense amendments that would either eliminate or prevent future job-killing regulations from going into effect, which would provide the necessary relief for American farmers and give a boost to rural America in these challenging economic times.”
Filling the Tree
Later Tuesday, Reid used a procedural tool known as filling the amendment tree to prevent senators from offering amendments — except for the Shaheen and Paul proposals — after Paul objected to an agreement to consider a broader number of amendments. Paul wanted the deal to include an amendment that would bar foreign aid to Pakistan until Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi, who provided information that helped U.S. forces find Osama bin Laden, is released from custody.
“I don’t think this is too much to ask,” Paul said. “The Senate has historically been a body that allowed debate, that allowed amendments — pertinent or not pertinent. This one is very important.”
Reid said while he considered Paul well-intentioned, his amendment had no place in the farm bill. Reid also indicated that Vermont Democrat
One of the GOP amendments on McConnell’s list was one by
Johanns tried to offer his dust regulation prohibition as a non-germane amendment to a China currency bill (
Reid Sets Up First Votes on Farm Bill
At the time, supporters of the Johanns amendment said they would have the 60 votes likely needed to adopt the amendment under normal circumstances.
McConnell also wants a vote on an amendment that would effectively bar the EPA from regulating non-navigable waters, suggesting that allowing the EPA to do so would bring “red tape and taxes into the backyards of millions of Americans.”
South Dakota Republican
The Labor Department withdrew the proposed rule in late April, but Thune and other Republicans said at the time that they would continue to push legislation to prevent the proposal from resurfacing.
Republicans are also hoping to use the farm bill to settle the long-simmering debate over margin requirements for end users of derivatives.
“Farmers, ranchers and businesses using the financial markets to guard against risk is the type of responsible business practice we should encourage. Instead, they may be subject to far-reaching and unintended consequences of a very flawed law,” Johanns said in a written statement.
Ellyn Ferguson, Philip Brasher and Benton Ives contributed to this story.