No guarantees for new Farm Bill in Senate

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WASHINGTON, June 13 (UPI) -- Proponents of the new Farm Bill say the U.S. Congress has no choice but to pass the measure before the current bill expires regardless of presidential politics.

Partisan deadlock is considered a major fear of farm-state lawmakers who predict agriculture could be plunged into chaos as crop insurance subsidies and insurance programs come to a halt when the current measure expires Sept. 30.

"People have to understand that alternative is not good," Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., told Politico as the replacement Farm Bill was rolled out in the Senate this week.

A primary obstacle the Senate faces is a flurry of amendments being attached to the bill. Politico said many have nothing to do with agriculture but are being attached by lawmakers who assume not much is going to be passed on Capitol Hill until after the November election.

The task for the farm state representatives will be agreeing to take a stand against amendments without appearing to be collaborating with the enemy.

"It can't be one of those deals where everybody gets every amendment they want on the farm bill," Thune said. "At some point, this has to get done."

Politico said there already have been more than 200 amendments to the Farm Bill, some of which were meant strictly to needle Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Politico also predicted Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., would buck the far-right of the GOP by taking a stand against amendments.