I Don’t Hate America!

Today in Congress, the House of Representatives has under its consideration H.R. 3161, a bill dealing with agriculture spending. Having already passed the policy-centered Farm Bill last week, H.R 3161 would appropriate $91 billion on agriculture.

For about the past three hours the House has been debating an amendment offered by Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) which would reduce the appropriation by $50,000 to the office of the Secretary of Agriculture.

Almost immediately the Democrats announced they would accept the amendment. Regardless of the non-controversial nature of the amendment, the House Republicans have used this time to debate State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) appropriations which will likely be brought to the House floor later this week.

Yes, during debate on an amendment about agriculture, they are talking about health care.

Much like common friggin’ sense would dictate, House rules state that debate must be germane to the subject under consideration, and Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) has reminded members of this rule countless times. One bloviating member in particular, Rep. John Shaddeg (R-AZ), didn’t like that the rule was applied to him and moved to appeal the decision of the chair.

Ugh.

Members are now in the middle of a roll call vote on this!

“Considering the cost of the clerk, air conditioning, and lights to keep this place open we have spent more money to hear this rhetoric than what is saved in this amendment,” Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI), House Appropriations Chairman, said.

House Republicans today are doing nothing today but grandstanding on the taxpayer’s dime. It’s downright shameful that a party which touts “fiscal responsibility!!!” like an ice-cream man would tout “soft serve cones with sprinkles!!!” would do this.

And according to all the conservative talking heads, it’s the DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP’S fault that nothing is getting done in Congress? Spare me that song and dance, please!

If I were there I would rise and move the previous question.

Someday. Hee hee.

Debate has officially kicked off in the US House of Representatives about the 2007 Farm Bill. I don’t follow floor debate in the US House too often but I am already having a flashback to the rhetoric from Marty Seifert and Tim Pawlenty when the Minnesota legislature had under its consideration a proposal to include inflation in budget forecasting. Those two Republicans falsely characterized it as “budget increases on autopilot.”

This time, the Farm Bill would close a loophole which allows for corporate overseas tax shelters. The elimination of this loophole, which would create $4 billion of revenue, is falsely being referred to by Republicans such as a tax “increase.”

I liken it to being shorted on your paycheck and upon notifying to your boss/payroll clerk/HR/whatever being told you shouldn’t be entitled to a pay increase.

Ugh. And due to this provision, these Republicans, such as Agriculture committee ranking member Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia), are intending to vote against the bill.

Nevertheless, Minnesota elected officials will get some spotlight, such as Agriculture committee chairman Collin Peterson, who has been heralded for his efforts to find compromise, and Tim Walz who is a member of the committee.

Based on a quote from this story yesterday, it doesn’t appear John Kline will support the bill.

Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., commended Peterson’s effort but had some reservations, including how a $4 billion increase to nutrition programs would be paid for.

“We have to see how these concerns are met,” Kline said in a statement.

I can only assume Michele Bachmann will vote against it because, well, she votes against everything so why even bother to find some real basis for that conclusion.

We will try and offer updates from time to time here at IDHA and of course Bluestem will continue to provide stellar coverage on this issue.

[UPDATE] Quick Farm Bill update (trying not to live blog as I will not hear the end of how “lame” live blogging C-SPAN is):

The controversial Ron Kind/Jeff Flake delete-everything amendment failed on a voice vote with a roll call vote to be taken later.

In opposition to the amendment, Tim Walz said it was well intentioned but doesn’t address the needs of his district, Minnesota’s 1st, which he described as one of the “richest pieces of agriculture land in the world.”

Walz, in his usual blunt tone, showed irritation at some of the rhetoric being presented in opposition to the bill.

“When I need advice about agriculture, I go to Kevin Paap at the Minnesota Farm Bureau, not the ideology at the Cato Institute.”

13 amendments were approved “en bloc” via voice vote with 17 more remaining. Final passage is expected to take place tomorrow. [/UPDATE]

[UPDATE 2] The Kind/Flake amendment fails 117-309. Looks like that will be all for the Farm Bill tonight.  I always laugh when the parliamentarian has to guide the Speaker Pro Temp through every little process and still has to ask “Now what?” into the microphone. [/Update 2]