Senate Takes Up Food Stamps, Farm Subsidies

04:59

June 10, 2013

Farmer Steve Henry looks at a patch of corn in Arapahoe, Neb., that failed due to drought, and will not be harvested, Sept. 12, 2012. Nationwide, farmers will be paid a record $16 billion in crop insurance claims for 2012 because of the widespread drought, a staggering amount that has critics calling for changes to what they say is an inefficient taxpayer subsidy the government cannot afford. (Nati Harnik/AP)

The Senate plans on voting on the latest version of the farm bill on Monday afternoon.

Back in January, Congress passed an extension to the old farm bill that was set to expire. That temporary fix helped keep farmers afloat, milk prices low and farm subsidies unchanged.

But the extension expires in September and Congress is now working on reauthorizing a comprehensive five-year plan.

At the forefront are questions about future spending on crop insurance subsidies and the food stamp program.

Guest:

Tamara Keith, congressional correspondent for NPR. She tweets @tamarakeithNPR.

This segment aired on June 10, 2013.

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