Senate Agriculture ranking member Amy Klobuchar is indicating that she will oppose the GOP-led farm bill during a Thursday markup, standing firm on Democrats’ top demand and likely scuttling chances of the package advancing, according to three people familiar with her thinking.
The Minnesota Democrat said in a statement to POLITICO that Democrats are still demanding a two-year delay to the implementation of a requirement that states pay for part of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Senate Agriculture Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) has offered a one-year delay in hopes of attracting Democrats’ support.
Klobuchar and Boozman spoke Wednesday afternoon, according to two of the three people, all of whom were granted anonymity to discuss the private conversations.
“I am committed to continuing to work with Chairman Boozman on this bill to get it done and there are good things in it for our farmers and ranchers,” Klobuchar said in the statement. “But amid tariff-related rising grocery prices in states across the country where SNAP has been critical, this is only a one-year fix. … Our members are simply asking for the two-year delay so all states will be on the same footing in working to reduce their error rates.”
