But the Senate is back in town, and working to make up the difference. As reported on Friday by Jerry Hagstrom for The Hagstrom Report: “Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., on Thursday said a government shutdown would cost $11 billion that could be used for the farm bill, and told Politico that senators would attach ‘a couple’ farm bill programs that would expire on September 30 to a continuing resolution to fund the government after that date to make sure they have funding.
“In comments on the Senate floor focused on the economy and the threat of a Republican shutdown, Stabenow said, ‘The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the last time the government shut down, it cost our economy $11 billion.’
“’Now, Mr. President, I have to tell you I’m in the middle as the chair of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee in negotiating a farm bill. And I think my ranking member Sen. Boozman would join me in saying that $11 billion we would lose in the economy — we sure could use that to invest in our farmers and rural America to be able to get this done.’ …”
The Farm Bill will expire on September 30, 2023, but House Republicans seem to be dead-set on creating a government shutdown. Their hold-up primarily relates to feeding programs, e.g., WIC — Women and Children’s Nutritional Feeding. This program actually pays for itself, by eliminating hunger, which saves money on aftercare costs. WIC’s data proves that its funding spent to eliminate hunger for babies and their moms saves money on hospital stays and produces healthy babies when they aren’t starved when in the womb.