Congress has less than two weeks to act before the current farm bill expires.
Dozens of federal programs are included in the bill -- everything from crop insurance to food aid for the poor.
Spending on food aid is one of the reasons that House Republican leaders have refused to call the measure for a vote. U-S Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is among many farm-state politicians of both parties who have been critical of that decision.
“There is a Tea Party group in the Republican caucus that is hell-bent on eliminating nutrition programs and food-stamp programs at a time when many working families are struggling to keep groceries on the table,” Durbin said.
House Republicans passed a more limited, temporary measure mainly intended to help livestock producers. But Democrats -- and many farm-state Republicans -- say it's not enough.
Thanks to Illinois Public Radio