(NAFB) Doubts over the accuracy of farm bill cost estimates are making the job of passing a five-year bill even more challenging as a September deadline approaches. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack is relying on the Congressional Budget Office estimate of the House GOP’s farm bill deficit.
But House GOP Ag Chair Glenn Thompson argues CBO got it wrong last year when it claimed the debt ceiling deal added over $2 billion in SNAP costs.
South Dakota Republican Dusty Johnson added his voice.
House Ag Republicans are now looking to new SNAP and CCC savings to offset higher crop supports or reference prices. But Senate Ag Republican Chuck Grassley warns that politicians should steer clear of trying to influence CBO scoring of bills.
But House Ag Chair Thompson says the CBO was wrong last year in its farm bill baseline for cotton by one billion dollars, apologized to him, and promised a correction.