The Farm Bill and the Federal Budget Process

Congress is in the second week of its spring recess, and will return next week. The break is a chance to review a major bill that is in conference committee.

The House and Senate have passed different versions of H.R. 2419, the Farm Bill Extension Act. Representatives of the two houses are now involved in hammering out a compromise version. If both houses pass that version, it can be signed into law.

The government's farm programs are substantial, and the cost of continuing them for 10 years is more than $5,700 per U.S. family.

    H.R. 2419
    The Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007
    Costs $5,727.56 per family
    What People Think: 35% For, 65% Against
    http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_2419.html

Another subject to stay aware of is the annual budget process. We have prepared a special budget and spending page you can use to follow it.

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/articles/show/32.html

The House and Senate each recently passed budget resolutions. H.Con. Res. 312 is the House's budget resolution. S.Con. Res. 70 is the Senate's budget resolution. They both call for a little over $25,000 in spending per U.S. family in the coming fiscal year.

    H. Con. Res. 312
    Revising the congressional budget for the United States Government for
    fiscal year 2008, establishing the congressional budget for the United
    States Government for fiscal year 2009, and setting forth appropriate
    budgetary levels for fiscal years 2010 through 2013
    Costs $25,035.19 per family
    What People Think: 21% For, 79% Against
    http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HC_312.html

    S. Con. Res. 70
    An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget
    for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009 and including the
    appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2008 and 2010 through 2013
    Costs $25,155.63 per family
    What People Think: 18% For, 82% Against
    http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SC_70.html

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family.

    New Items

    S. 352
    The Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2007
    Costs $0.03 per family
    http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SN_352.html

    H.R. 1759
    The Managing Arson Through Criminal History (MATCH) Act of 2007
    Costs $0.15 per family
    http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_1759.html

    H.R. 5487
    The Affordable Homeownership Preservation Fund Act of 2008
    Costs $2.28 per family
    http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5487.html

    H.R. 5577
    The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008
    Costs $9.63 per family
    http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5577.html

    Updated Items

    H.R. 1462
    The Platte River Recovery Implementation Program and Pathfinder
    Modification Authorization Act
    Costs $0.57 per family
    http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_1469.html

    Passed Items

    P.L. 110-196
    A bill to extend agricultural programs beyond March 15, 2008, to suspend
    permanent price support authorities beyond that date, and for other
    purposes
    http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_PL_110-196.html

    P.L. 110-197
    A joint resolution providing for the appointment of John W. McCarter as a
    citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution
    http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_PL_110-197.html

SOURCE WashingtonWatch.com