Peterson Hopeful For Passing Farm Bill This Summer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An influential Minnesota voice on agriculture says he's hopeful that Congress will pass a new farm bill this summer after efforts last year failed.
U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, the ranking Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, had threatened earlier this year to sit out writing a new farm bill unless he got a guarantee from House Republican leaders that they'd let the legislation get a floor vote this time.
Peterson tells The Associated Press he now has those assurances from Speaker John Boehner and others, so his name will be on the bill when it's unveiled later this week.
Both the House and Senate agriculture panels meet next week tol begin shaping their versions of the bill, which will guide agricultural policies and spending for the next five years.
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