The Farm Bill Takes Shape

Things are moving on the federal farm bill, with the House and Senate agriculture committees—controlled by Republicans and Democrats, respectively—outlining in recent days their priorities for the bill. Those documents are the first salvos in the negotiation over a bill that must be turned into law or further extended by the end of September 2024. 

The most important takeaway from our review of the House and Senate summaries: it's an extension of the status quo, a set of tweaks that both Big Sugar—and sugar-using companies—can get behind. Both versions bolster federal support for Big Sugar. Neither takes on cane burning or the Florida sugar industry's toxic impact on water, the Everglades, and coastal communities and businesses.  

None of this is surprising. More important, these summary documents are a long way from becoming law; there's still a good chance the farm bill gets kicked into next year. That's why we'll be working with our bipartisan partners to convey our concerns, continuing to call on legislators to put an end to cane burning and the most rigged game in American politics.

Meanwhile, in a reminder of what that rigged game looks like—why the status quo persists—former president Donald Trump is publicizing a Manhattan fundraiser, scheduled for tonight, hosted by Pepe Fanjul, Sr.

In case you've forgotten, Pepe's the Republican brother; Alfy's the Democrat, the old friend of Biden special advisor Chris Dodd, the brother allegedly on the phone with President Clinton when he ended his affair with Monica Lewinsky. 

This brotherly charade of bipartisanship has served the family well: it's worth at least $150 million per year, according to one analysis.

$100,000 to attend a dinner with Pepe Fanjul and the former president, fresh off a day in state criminal court in Manhattan.

That's a long way from the sugarcane fields of south Florida. And it's a stark reminder of what we're up against, and why our work continues.