Farm Bill Passes In The Senate, Awaits The House

On June 10, the Senate passed the farm bill in a vote of 66 to 27. The bill could reach the Senate for debate as early as next week — but there it will face an uncertain fate. The last time a farm bill was approved by both the Senate and the House was in 2008. Last year, a similar bill was passed in the Senate, but failed to come to fruition in the house.

The most recent bill is a five-year plan that will cost almost $955 billion over the span of 10 years. The legislation will fund programs such as crop insurance for farmers and food assistance for low-income families.

According to the co-author of the bill Senator Debbie Stabenow in her comments to the press (D-Mich.), the recent farm bill "is about growing things."he added that when it comes to the economy, "that's what we need to do in this country." 

To what degree the farm bill makes cuts to food stamps will be one of the greatest issues of contention between parties. Whether this hinders the bill's passing in the House will become clearer, according to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), within the month.