House debates Ryan crop insurance resolution
October 11, 2013 | 06:40 PM
The House late today began debating a sense of the House resolution sponsored by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., that would urge farm bill conferees to adopt an amendment in the Senate farm bill that reduces crop insurance subsidies for farmers who make more than $750,000 per year.
The Senate amendment was sponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla.
The House farm bill “got a lot right” by eliminating direct payments and making changes to the food stamp program, but “unfortunately I don’t think it went far enough,” Ryan said as he managed debate on the resolution.
Ryan noted that the amendment would only reduce some crop insurance subsidies from 60 percent of the cost of the premium to 52 percent and would affect only 1 percent of farmers.
But House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said the resolution would “shrink the pool” of crop insurance participants and lessen the total crop insurance premiums contributed to the pool to make payments when farmers have a loss.
“It is important that we encourage participation in crop insurance,” Lucas said. He also urged the House to take the House Agriculture Committee’s guidance on farm program policy.
A roll call vote on the resolution is expected Saturday.
The Senate amendment was sponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla.
The House farm bill “got a lot right” by eliminating direct payments and making changes to the food stamp program, but “unfortunately I don’t think it went far enough,” Ryan said as he managed debate on the resolution.
Ryan noted that the amendment would only reduce some crop insurance subsidies from 60 percent of the cost of the premium to 52 percent and would affect only 1 percent of farmers.
But House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said the resolution would “shrink the pool” of crop insurance participants and lessen the total crop insurance premiums contributed to the pool to make payments when farmers have a loss.
“It is important that we encourage participation in crop insurance,” Lucas said. He also urged the House to take the House Agriculture Committee’s guidance on farm program policy.
A roll call vote on the resolution is expected Saturday.
