June 30, 1999

Republicans have agreed to debate managed health care legislation the week of July 12, breaking the impasse that had kept the Senate from finishing work on the agriculture appropriations bill. With the stalemate broken, the Senate will wrap up the appropriations bill soon, but it could be after the week-long July 4 recess. Today, the Senate will consider the bill appropriating money for foreign aid and diplomacy.

When the Senate does return to the agriculture bill, it will likely debate several high-profile amendments. Democrats will again propose to increase farm spending by $6 billion or more to help hard-pressed farmers. Dairy-state Senators of both parties will probably try to extend the Northeast dairy compact, create a new one for the Southeast and overrule USDA's plans for marketing order reform. Another bipartisan coalition will offer an amendment to limit the scope of unilateral sanctions on food and medicine.