Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell calls passing a farm bill a top priority for the lame duck session, but the conference committee must first come to an agreement. Senate Ag Chairman Pat Roberts was hopeful for an agreement Thursday, but said House Ag Committee Chair Mike Conaway refused to come to an agreement, blaming the delay on the Texas Republican. However, Conaway called Roberts comments “finger-pointing” that would not help to bring about a deal, according to Politico. Roberts noted that Conaway was holding out on signing the conference report because he has concerns with at least six titles of the bill, including commodity, nutrition and conservation. Roberts said of the conference committee leadership he is “very troubled by the fact that we have agreement among three, but we can’t get the fourth one.” Conaway says he has “some things” he hasn’t agreed to, but adds that so does Roberts, and Ranking Senate Ag Member Debbie Stabenow and Ranking House Ag Member Collin Peterson. Conway concludes “pick your poison as to who you think is standing in the way.”
