Leadership in congress assures farm state lawmakers the provision to cut crop insurance will be reversed.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson announced an agreement to avoid the cuts to crop insurance which are included in the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015. Joni Ernst and many others in congress were frustrated after members of the House and Senate Ag committee weren?t even considered to address the $3 billion cut.
?The very concerning issue is that those of us who serve on the agricultural committee weren?t even consulted about these cuts in funding. Some of the other concerns I have with this two year budget deal are yes there are cuts in some areas, but instead of applying those cuts those savings to our debt we using it on additional spending. I don?t think this is what Iowans want. I don?t think this is what Americans want,? Ernst said.
Ernst said immediately after information about the budget deal was released Tuesday she started hearing from farmers.
?We?ve heard from a number of farmers who are very concerned about this as well as their insurance agents. Eventually there will be a point where we get fewer and fewer products or insurance agents that will be able to provide crop insurance and that is a big concern to a lot of folks. Not just in Iowa but across the United States,? Ernst said.
The two-year budget deal passed the House on 266 to 167 vote late Wednesday afternoon. The deal now moves to the senate. They must reach a deal by November 3rd.
