Walz presses for lame-duck farm bill as 'fiscal cliff' looms
Politics Mike Mulcahy · Tim Walz   The farm bill expired earlier
this year because of House Republican infighting over how deeply
to cut food stamp spending.   U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., said
he wants to see the farm bill completed in the lame-duck session
of Congress.  "The farm bill was a huge component of my race,
one on the policy but two on the idea that why can't you can't
get something that simple done?" Walz said. "So I'm all for it.
Let's put it in the negotiations on this."  The new farm bill
would create a national eligibility standard for food stamps,
end direct payments to farmers and expand federally subsidized
crop insurance programs.  Meanwhile, some Democrats and union
leaders have called for Obama to delay negotiating a final
agreement with Republicans until after New Year's to maximize
his bargaining position with Republicans. Walz, however, was not
on board with that idea, saying it would create uncertainty for
taxpayers.  "Bu