Farm bill negotiators struggle with forestry, other issues in closing deal

Farm bill negotiators are struggling to work out deals on forestry regulations, commodity program eligibility rules and other issues with a goal of finalizing an agreement that Congress can vote on before adjourning in December. Conaway said he was gearing up to pitch the final bill to his fellow Republicans, who will lose control of the House in January. The final legislation won't include the tighter work requirements for food stamp recipients that had been a priority for many conservatives. Asked whether GOP leaders would require the bill to have the support of a majority of Republicans, an informal requirement known as the "Hastert rule" for a former House speaker, Conaway indicated that his only goal was to get 218 votes, a majority of the House. "I'd love to have the Hastert rule apply, but I'm going to get to 218," Conaway said.Conaway declined to discuss details of the remaining disputes, but he indicated that forestry provisions were still up in the air, and he said he has been pushing back against efforts to tighten farm bill eligibility rules.