News

Bills, Klobuchar spar over Senate's farm bill

Photo: KNSI News

Aug 9, 2012 at 6:56 am

REDWOOD FALLS, MN (AP) - Republican Senate candidate Kurt Bills says he would have voted against the farm bill passed by the U.S. Senate in June because it was too expensive.

The Senate approved a five-year bill of nearly a half-trillion dollars, with support from Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Bills appeared with Klobuchar on Wednesday at the FarmFest trade show near Redwood Falls. He said he would support a smaller bill if its subsidies would go only to low- and middle-income farmers.

Klobuchar said the Senate bill was supported by several Upper Midwest Republicans, and would cut the deficit by nearly $23 billion.

The House hasn't voted on the Senate's bill. Klobuchar says it's vital to pass this year to get aid to drought-stricken farmers and to shield farmers from the weak economy.