Baucus raises concerns over crop insurance changes

Montana's senior U. S. senator, Democrat Max Baucus, has told the secretary of the Department of Agriculture that proposed changes in crop insurance could have some serious unintended consequences.

"Having heard from Montana farmers, it's clear to me that these proposed rule changes amount to a one-size-fits all approach that just isn't right for Montana, " Baucus said in a press release Friday. "Agriculture is the backbone of our economy and we've got to pull out all the stops to make sure our producers have the tools they need to create good-paying jobs. "

At question is a proposed change that would give refunds to farmers participating in federal crop insurance, rather than offering a performance-based premium discount, Baucus said.

He led a bipartisan effort to express concern about the change, sending a letter to Secretary Tom Vilsack last week.

In the letter, Baucus commended Vilsack for trying to implement performance-based discounts, but wrote that the senators are concerned that producers will be less likely to increase their coverage under federal crop insurance due to a perception that higher coverage levels would reduce the chance to benefit under the program.

He wrote to Vilsack that, without changes, it will not achieve the goals of the program and will jeopardize that program's effectiveness.

"I'm concerned that our farmers, who have always taken an active role in managing their risk, will get the short end of the stick, " Baucus said in the release. "These rule changes mean a wheat farmer in Montana would be compared to corn farmers in Iowa, which doesn't add up to me. "

In other congressional news, Montana's junior senator, Democrat Jon Tester, praised the passage of a bill that will prevent secret holds killing nominations and stopping bills from moving forward.

"Today's vote cleans the gunk out of the gears so we can focus on real debate, and that's exactly what Montanans and all Americans expect us to do, " Tester said in a release Thursday. "If lawmakers disagree with each other they ought to face the music, not hide in secrecy. Today's vote to ban secret holds is another win for transparency and accountability that everyone deserves. "

Tester, who has pushed for increased transparency and accountability in the Senate, co-sponsored a ban on secret holds earlier this month.

The rule change requires senators who wish to block legislation or nominees to explain their reasoning in writing after two legislative days.

The Senate passed the ban with a vote of 92-4.

Montana's senior U. S. senator, Democrat Max Baucus, has told the secretary of the Department of Agriculture that proposed changes in crop insurance could have some serious unintended consequences.

"Having heard from Montana farmers, it's clear to me that these proposed rule changes amount to a one-size-fits all approach that just isn't right for Montana, " Baucus said in a press release Friday. "Agriculture is the backbone of our economy and we've got to pull out all the stops to make sure our producers have the tools they need to create good-paying jobs. "

At question is a proposed change that would give refunds to farmers participating in federal crop insurance, rather than offering a performance-based premium discount, Baucus said.

He led a bipartisan effort to express concern about the change, sending a letter to Secretary Tom Vilsack last week.

In the letter, Baucus commended Vilsack for trying to implement performance-based discounts, but wrote that the senators are concerned that producers will be less likely to increase their coverage under federal crop insurance due to a perception that higher coverage levels would reduce the chance to benefit under the program.

He wrote to Vilsack that, without changes, it will not achieve the goals of the program and will jeopardize that program's effectiveness.

"I'm concerned that our farmers, who have always taken an active role in managing their risk, will get the short end of the stick, " Baucus said in the release. "These rule changes mean a wheat farmer in Montana would be compared to corn farmers in Iowa, which doesn't add up to me. "

In other congressional news, Montana's junior senator, Democrat Jon Tester, praised the passage of a bill that will prevent secret holds killing nominations and stopping bills from moving forward.

"Today's vote cleans the gunk out of the gears so we can focus on real debate, and that's exactly what Montanans and all Americans expect us to do, " Tester said in a release Thursday. "If lawmakers disagree with each other they ought to face the music, not hide in secrecy. Today's vote to ban secret holds is another win for transparency and accountability that everyone deserves. "

Tester, who has pushed for increased transparency and accountability in the Senate, co-sponsored a ban on secret holds earlier this month.

The rule change requires senators who wish to block legislation or nominees to explain their reasoning in writing after two legislative days.

The Senate passed the ban with a vote of 92-4.