MANKATO, Minn. -
The days before the current farm bill expires are dwindling down, and while many politicians and most farmers are calling for the passage of a new one, republican First Congressional District candidate Allen Quist says the bill needs to be sent back to committee for repair.
Quist says, "Any legislation needs to be considered in the context of this debt. We would do far better by getting that bill sent back to committee and getting it fixed."
Quist says the biggest problem is that the level of spending in the bill will continue to cripple our federal debt.
Quist says, "I look at the long term, not just the short term."
He also thinks the farm bill shouldn't combine agriculture and food policies.
Quist says, "Having two subjects in one bill is one of the reasons our federal debt is out of control, if were going to evaluate properly any bill it has to be taken independently."
President of MN Farm Bureau Kevin Paap disagrees saying there is reason agriculture and food are together.
Paap says, "Every senator every rep have constituents that eat, very few have those that farm. If we had a farm bill that stood alone by itself, it would never pass the house of reps, we'd only have 70–80 votes."
Paap says a lot of work and compromise has been put into the bill and for farmers sake, it needs to pass soon.
Paap says, "Even though we are getting close to harvesting this years crop, we are already making decisions on next years crop...how can we decide what we want to plant for crops if we don't know what the farm programs are going to be."
Quist would prefer congress took the time to revisit it.
Quist says, "Other than the disaster relief, there is nothing in the bill that can't wait until February or March."
The bill passed the senate with bipartisan support, and is now in the house agriculture committee.
There are 8 congressional days between now and the election.
The Tim Walz Campaign says that Quist is just calling for more delays and gridlock in Washington, which is bad for Minnesota Farmers.
