EWG News release
EWG: With Super Committee Dead, Ag Leaders Should Make Public Secret Farm Bill Plan
Washington, D.C. – Late last week, the four top leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees finalized the details of their secret farm bill, slated to be part of the so-called Super Committee’s deficit reduction proposal. Parts of the plan have been leaked or described in media reports, but the full proposal has yet to be made public.
It’s time for the rest of the country to see what just four people had in store for farm, food and nutrition policy for the rest of the 310 million Americans.
“Now that the Super Committee has failed, there will be no secret farm bill,” said Environmental Working Group President Ken Cook. “The top House and Senate Ag Committee leaders worked on a proposal for months behind closed doors. And, according to their own staff, had even sent it to the Congressional Budget Office for an estimate on what it would cost. Where is that proposal?” asked Cook.
“We could use the proposal as we now begin an actual democratic and open debate on reauthorization of the 2012 farm bill,” added Cook.
"Twelve people shouldn't be allowed to determine the nation's food, nutrition and conservation policy for more than three hundred million Americans," said EWG Senior VP for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Craig Cox. "Hopefully, as a result of the breakdown of the super committee, the next farm bill will be determined through the regular process of hearings, debate and amendments so the concerns of all citizens can be considered."