Though they face long-odds, U.S. House Republicans are trying to advance a budget framework and follow-on bill for the Iran war and US farm aid.
The framework includes some $73 billion in war and intelligence funding, $10 billion to implement voter ID reforms, and $12 billion for agriculture. The White House had asked for $20 billion for agriculture.
Jody Arrington is the Chair of the House Budget Committee.
“We’re going to strengthen our food supply. We’re not going to allow instability and a lack of resilience in the food supply. Food security’s national security. We’re not going to be begging China or anybody to feed our families.”
A recent industry report projects major row crop losses in the U.S. will be up by $1 billion next year, rising to $32 billion. However, House budget hawks are looking for spending offsets needed to set the stage for a final party-line reconciliation bill in order to avoid a Senate filibuster.
South Dakota Senator and Senate Majority Leader John Thune says lots of questions remain.
“The defense number, the ag number, whether or not it’s offset, what are the implications over here with respect to the Byrd rule and the restrictions we have on how reconciliation is used.”
Thune says the bottom line is the math.
“…whether you can get 50-votes to pass it in the end, and whether you can get 50-votes to defeat any poison pill amendments that might be offered.”
Senate Democrats blocked debate on the annual national defense bill over the war with Iran, which a party-line reconciliation measure would help fund. The House is set to take up the budget framework for that bill this week.
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