Budget Rules

While the Senate version of the produce title for the farm bill has yet to appear - it is expected sometime this week - it is clear that finding new money for specialty crop programs in the next farm bill won't be easy. Here is an excerpt from the House Budget Committee fiscal 2008 budget resolution. A key point is that while $20 billion will be held in reserve, offsets (reductions in other programs) must be found to have access to that money.

Revising the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2007, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2008, and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2009 through 2012.

SEC. 204. RESERVE FUND FOR AGRICULTURE.
In the House, with respect to a bill or a joint resolution (or an amendment thereto or conference report there on) that provides for the reauthorization of the programs of the Food Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 or prior Acts, authorizes similar programs, or both, increases new budget authority by no more than $20,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012, the chairman of the Committee on the Budget may make the appropriate adjustments in allocations of a committee or committees and budgetary aggregates, but only to the extent that such bill or joint resolution (as amended, in the case of an amendment) in the form placed before the House by the Committee on Rules would not increase the deficit or decrease the surplus for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012 and the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2017. The adjustments may be made whenever a rule providing for consideration of such a bill or joint resolution is filed, such a bill or joint resolution is placed on any calendar, or an amendment is offered or considered as adopted or a conference report is submitted on such a bill or joint resolution.