Congress heads home this week with some unfinished business, including a five-year Farm Bill. Representative Mark Pocan warned Monday that failure to act by year’s end could mean a doubling of dairy prices. “Families and farmers in south central Wisconsin could see the price of milk double, starting in 2014,” the Madison Democrat said during a press conference at Jennifer Street Market in Madison. “The bottom line is, this has been a terribly unproductive Congress. We shouldn’t be going home if we don’t get it done by Friday.”
Valerie Grover of Edgerton is a constituent of Pocan’s who joined him Monday. The single mom of two said it would be a challenge for her budget if dairy doubles. “It’s going to be tight, and it’s going to be weighing on my shoulders,” she said.
“It’s strange to me that the Speaker of the House feels it’s more important that they get home for Christmas vacation on time, rather than to pass the farm bill and get hungry people the food that they need,” said Jim Goodman, a Sauk County dairy farmer.
negotiators are still working on the Farm Bill, but Congress is scheduled to head home Friday for the holiday break.