Saturday, January 16, 2010

How Congress Works

From FarmPolicy, concerning Senator Lincoln of Arkansas:

“‘Many farmers had major damage to crops, and the need for help is immediate since banks will begin making crop loans in a couple of weeks,’ Lincoln said Wednesday.”
The article pointed out that, “Chad Pitillo of Simmons First National Bank said last week the bank had already begun making crop loans and that some farmers would not have enough equity to continue into next season if financial assistance is not provided very soon.
“Lincoln, who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, joined Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) to introduce legislation in mid-November that would provide quick damage assistance. In early December Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.) and Rep. Travis Childers (D-Miss.) introduced a companion bill in the House.
“‘It will be important that we find a bill that we can attach it to that can pass quickly,’ Lincoln said. ‘Since we are not in session, I don’t know what bill that will be yet, but it is a high priority and I am focused on getting assistance to farmers as quickly as possible.’”

If she attaches her provision to a must-pass bill, it bypasses the authorization process of the agriculture committees. It could, I think, be subject to a point of order that it doesn't conform to pay-go rules, but that assumes someone is willing to be the skunk at the garden party (Sen. Coburn, perhaps).

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