No to Klobuchar

I thought Klobuchar's argument for her means-testing amendment carried the day, but Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas resorted to the argument that rich program crop farmers "make a lot of money but they spend a lot too." Plus, she asked, how can you means-test subsidies and not conservation payments? In the end, the amendment gets less than 50 votes and it needed 60.

Reaction from Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner to the failure of the Klobuchar amendment:
"I am disappointed that the Senate defeated Senator Klobuchar's amendment that would have helped bring reform to the farm program. I have talked with farmers all across America, and most do not support a policy that takes tax dollars from middle income America and transfers it to the nations wealthiest few," said Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner.
"The Administration has consistently supported lowering the Adjusted Gross Income eligibility for commodity programs, and although this amendment does not go as far as our proposal in advancing reform, it clearly was a step in the right direction. Its defeat signals yet another missed opportunity by the Senate to enact true reform," said Conner.
"The current farm bill is flawed, and continues to award the wealthiest two percent of Americans with support payments. The Klobuchar amendment would have been a good start in reforming this policy, and it is unfortunate that the Senate failed to enact this much needed reform," added Conner.

The Klobuchar amendment would create a more stringent Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) test for eligibility for commodity programs. Under this amendment, a full time farmer would have to have an AGI below $750,000, while a part-time farmer would need an AGI below $250,000 to qualify for program benefits. The AGI limitation for conservation programs would remain unchanged from the underlying bill, and savings attributed to the lower AGI threshold would be devoted to increases in spending for beginning farmers, rural broadband grants, energy, conservation and research.

An update from Harkin's office:

The Senate has proceeded to roll-call votes in relation to the following amendments:

1. Klobuchar amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to improve the adjusted gross income limitation and use the savings to provide additional funding for certain programs and reduce the Federal deficit (#3810)

2. Tester-Grassley amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to modify the provisions relating to unlawful practices under the Packers and Stockyards Act (#3666)

3. Brown-Sununu amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to increase funding for critical Farm Bill programs and improve crop insurance (#3819)

4. Craig amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to prohibit the involuntary acquisition of farmland and grazing land by Federal, State, and local governments for parks, open space, or similar purposes (#3640)

Each of these amendments is subject to a 60-vote threshold. If any of these amendments achieves 60 votes, then it will be agreed to; if any of these amendments fails to achieve 60 votes, then it will be withdrawn.

Also, the Coburn amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to limit the distribution to deceased individuals, and estates of those individuals, of certain agricultural payments (#3530) was modified and agreed to by unanimous consent.