AFBF: We Need Financial Clarity Heading Into A New Fiscal Year

While this week’s White House budget deal with Congressional leaders makes it easier to pass USDA and other spending bills in September, it’s not a guarantee.  The two-year budget debt ceiling deal must still be sold to lawmakers of both parties and there are both Republicans and Democrats that are not happy.  There's a 'no' vote from the conservative House Freedom Caucus; and Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley, is upset House Speaker Nancy Pelosi agreed to keep controversial policy provisions off spending bills.

The $24-billion USDA spending bill that has already cleared the House, contains policy riders the White House said it cannot accept.

"AFB opposed the proposed pork slaughter rule amendment that was put in the, as a rider in the full-committee mark-up.” American Farm Bureau’s R.J. Karney.

The proposal requires an expanded Inspector General probe of data USDA used to develop its pork slaughter rule to allow faster line speeds.  Meanwhile, AFBF took no position on a separate rider to defund USDA's relocating two agencies to the Kansas City region.  Karney said the bottom line is getting certainty for the new fiscal year.

“We would like to have certainty with regards to a fiscal year '20 appropriations bill that can pass both chambers and get a signature through the White House, before the September 30 deadline, so that we can avoid having another continuing resolution, which has become all too a custom, here in Washington, DC."

It will now be up to House and Senate leaders to navigate the opposition with reconstituted bills that will keep the government open, the debt funded, and provide the budget certainty farmers and others need.

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