Senate Comes Together For Farm Bill

Yesterday the U.S. Senate did something they’ve rarely done in the past few years – they passed the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act, a five-year, $500 billion farm bill, on a mostly bipartisan 64-35 vote. The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, praised it as “one of the finest moments in the Senate in recent times in terms of how you pass a bill.” The subtext of his comment is, “Republicans and Democrats in Congress can come together when we have common interests – especially common special interests.” The reason a farm bill can be passed is because agriculture is an industry that is widely spread throughout the country and so most Senators have a large number of constituents and companies in their states – not to mention lobbyists – who direct the senators’ votes. Senators from both parties in states heavy into agriculture (McConnell’s Kentucky is one such state) find ways to come together on farm bills. Iowa’s two senators, progressive Tom Harkin and conservative Charles Grassley, join in voting regularly for agriculture legislation. Iowa ranks third in the country in agriculture income. I have no idea about the merits of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act – it’s long and complicated and concerns a subject that’s not my ken (that’s why we have representatives and why they have lobbyists). But I do know that the bill passed not because of its merits but because of its money. Although I guess that’s where we are in politics – the merits are determined by who gets how much of the money.