Obama Blasts Ryan on Farm Bill Stalemate
Source: National Journal
Obama Blasts Ryan on Farm Bill Stalemate
President says Republicans holding up vital assistance to farmers during drought.
Opening up a new line of attack against Rep. Paul Ryan, President Obama told an Iowa audience on Monday that Mitt Romney's running mate and other congressional Republicans need to drop their objections to passing a farm bill to help farmers deal with persistent drought and other problems.
The reauthorization of a five-year, $500 billion bill to provide a safety net for the nation’s food producers and provide funding for food stamps and conservation programs has been mired in an unusually bitter election-year political fight. Democrats object to a proposed $16 billion cut in food stamps, while conservatives would rather the cuts be more in tune with the budget outlined by Ryan, which called for a $33 billion reduction.
"Unfortately right now, too many members of Congress are blocking the farm bill from becoming law," Obama told a crowd in Council Bluffs, Iowa. "I am told that Governor Romney's new running mate Paul Ryan will be around Iowa in the next few days, and he is one of the congressmen standing the way. So if you happen to see Congressman Ryan, tell him how important this farm bill is to Iowa and the rural communities, because we have to put politics aside when it comes to doing the right thing for rural America and for Iowa."
Obama said his administration is seeking to help farmers and ranchers by purchasing more than $150 million in meat and fish that can be frozen for later use. Last week it announced it would provide $30 million to ranchers and farmers to get more water to livestock and to land because of the drought.
Read more: http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/obama-blasts-ryan-on-farm-bill-stalemate-20120813
= new reply since forum marked as read
