Iowa Congressman Tom Latham, a Republican from Ames, says he voted for the farm bill that passed the U.S. House Wednesday. Latham says farmers need certainty for the next several years in what they can expect from the federal government.
He says it includes a major increase in the food stamp program and says the reform portions went in the right direction, but not as far as he wanted to see for payment limitations. Latham says the compromise bill seems to be one that will be accepted.
Latham says he thinks the farmers like this version to the farm bill and to have it done is "a real victory for all of us." Latham says there are things he’s not happy with in the bill.
Latham says the provisions in the permanent disaster program he doesn’t like because it entices farmers to plant crops on marginal ground and expect yearly payments. He says there are some "real egregious things" for credits for a project in Montana he doesn’t think taxpayers should be funding.
Overall though, Latham says it’s a good bill. Latham says the bill had tremendous support from all sectors of agriculture and he’s glad that it’s finally done. The House passed the 290-billion dollar farm bill on a 318-106 vote.