Amidst controversy today about what will happen next on the farm bill and who holds responsibility, the House leadership began the process of sending the farm-bill-only farm bill to the Senate, a knowledgeable House Republican source told The Hagstrom Report late today.

The House source said that the Senate would need to take HR 2642, insert S. 954 (the Senate farm bill) by unanimous consent and request conference with the House. The reason this process is needed, the source said, is that the Senate bill contains financing measures and all finance measures must originate in the House.

The Hagstrom Report has been unable to confirm whether the House has actually sent the bill, whether the Senate has accepted receipt of it, and what other action may take place.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., did not say that the Senate had received a message from the House or mention the farm bill in his wrapup remarks this evening. The Senate has not officially received the bill, a Senate aide said.

The Senate is holding an extraordinary closed session this evening to discuss whether to change Senate rules on the number of votes needed to end debates on the confirmation of nominees to executive branch posts.

The House is not in session until Tuesday.