Boehner takes hard line on dairy supply management, says trade promotion authority vote must be bipartisan
January 09, 2014 | 12:55 PM
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, today took a hard line on whether what he considers supply management will be included in a new farm bill.
Boehner did not bring up the farm bill at his weekly news conference, but was asked about his continuing opposition to a provision in the new bill that dairy farmers call market stabilization and dairy processors call supply management.
“I have no illusions that the soviet-style dairy program we have will continue,” Boehner said, but he added, “Let’s not make it worse by including supply management.”
“I have fought off the supply management idea for 23 years in Congress and my position has not changed,” he continued.
Later in the news conference when a reporter appeared to attempt to ask Boehner if he would oppose the bill or not bring it up if it contained the supply management provision, Boehner cut off the question, saying, “I am confident the conference report will not include supply management provisions for the dairy program.”
Boehner also noted that from his perspective an extension of unemployment benefits must be offset, but he did not mention the use of the savings in the farm bill or any other potential source of government program cuts as the offset.
Democrats have said that the extension of the unemployment benefits is an emergency and should not be offset by cuts in other programs. Boehner said that the unemployment situation “is not as bad as it was,” but that “for those who have not found new jobs it is a crisis for them.”
Congressional farm leaders had hoped to hold a conference meeting on the farm bill today, but a key congressional aide said it is unlikely there would be an announcement today of a conference meeting.
Plans for the conference have been on hold since Boehner last Friday reiterated his continuing opposition to the market stabilization/supply management provision. In addition, conflicts remain over payment limitations to farmers, whether to repeal a provision in the 2008 farm bill moving catfish inspection from the Food and Drug Administration to the Agriculture Department and a few other issues. Consensus appears to have been reached on an $8 billion to $9 billion cut in the food stamp program over 10 years, however.
Boehner also noted today that he has told President Barack Obama that trade promotion authority will be approved only if there is bipartisan support for it. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., plan to release a trade promotion authority bill today, he noted.
House Ways and Means Committee ranking member Sander Levin, D-Mich., is unlikely to support the Baucus-Camp trade promotion authority bill as written.
Baucus hopes to make as much progress as possible on the bill before his nomination to be the next U.S. ambassador to China is approved and he leaves the Senate, Washington Trade Daily said today. Baucus and Camp met one-on-one on Wednesday.
Boehner also said that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., would outline “standards and principles” for immigration reform “in the coming weeks.”
Boehner did not bring up the farm bill at his weekly news conference, but was asked about his continuing opposition to a provision in the new bill that dairy farmers call market stabilization and dairy processors call supply management.
“I have no illusions that the soviet-style dairy program we have will continue,” Boehner said, but he added, “Let’s not make it worse by including supply management.”
“I have fought off the supply management idea for 23 years in Congress and my position has not changed,” he continued.
Later in the news conference when a reporter appeared to attempt to ask Boehner if he would oppose the bill or not bring it up if it contained the supply management provision, Boehner cut off the question, saying, “I am confident the conference report will not include supply management provisions for the dairy program.”
Boehner also noted that from his perspective an extension of unemployment benefits must be offset, but he did not mention the use of the savings in the farm bill or any other potential source of government program cuts as the offset.
Democrats have said that the extension of the unemployment benefits is an emergency and should not be offset by cuts in other programs. Boehner said that the unemployment situation “is not as bad as it was,” but that “for those who have not found new jobs it is a crisis for them.”
Congressional farm leaders had hoped to hold a conference meeting on the farm bill today, but a key congressional aide said it is unlikely there would be an announcement today of a conference meeting.
Plans for the conference have been on hold since Boehner last Friday reiterated his continuing opposition to the market stabilization/supply management provision. In addition, conflicts remain over payment limitations to farmers, whether to repeal a provision in the 2008 farm bill moving catfish inspection from the Food and Drug Administration to the Agriculture Department and a few other issues. Consensus appears to have been reached on an $8 billion to $9 billion cut in the food stamp program over 10 years, however.
Boehner also noted today that he has told President Barack Obama that trade promotion authority will be approved only if there is bipartisan support for it. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., plan to release a trade promotion authority bill today, he noted.
House Ways and Means Committee ranking member Sander Levin, D-Mich., is unlikely to support the Baucus-Camp trade promotion authority bill as written.
Baucus hopes to make as much progress as possible on the bill before his nomination to be the next U.S. ambassador to China is approved and he leaves the Senate, Washington Trade Daily said today. Baucus and Camp met one-on-one on Wednesday.
Boehner also said that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., would outline “standards and principles” for immigration reform “in the coming weeks.”
