House Passes Farm Bill 213-211

After the vote total on the House version of the farm bill hung at a tie vote, the eventual tally for the bill moved it forward from the chamber 213-211. No Democrats supported the package and 20 Republicans voted no with four lawmakers (two Republicans and two Democrats) not voting.A relieved House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, said after the victory that the focus now will shift to the Senate and a hoped-for conference that can be wrapped up before the 2014 Farm Bill expires September 30. "Now we're ready to anxiously await Pat's success next week in the Senate, if he can get his bill done," Conaway told reporters, referring to Senate Ag Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan.House Ag Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson, D., Minn., did not talk with reporters, but said in a statement, "The only upside to its passage is that we're one step closer to conference, where it's my hope that cooler heads can and will prevail." Peterson parted ways with Conaway over work requirements and other provisions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). He commented that while the current Senate bill is not perfect, "it avoids the hardline partisan approach that House Republicans have taken here today."Conaway said he expects Peterson to "weigh in on behalf of the production of agriculture in the way he has always done."Senate consideration of their version of the farm bill is now expected to take place next week.