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Advocates Alert 12/14/2007: Senate to Approve Farm Bill Today with Extension of New Tax Incentive

Last night the Senate voted 78-12 to close debate on the Farm Bill, presaging Senate passage of that bill today. The Senate bill includes permanent renewal of the new tax incentive for conservation donations.

Because the House and Senate farm bills are so different, the negotiations to reach a final bill will drag into 2008. We are very hopeful that the final bill will include provisions making the new conservation easement tax incentive permanent! This, and any other tax provisions, will be made retroactive to January 1.

In the Senate debate, we were not able to achieve an increase in funding for key easement grant programs (the Farmland Protection Program and Grassland Reserve Program).

The Dorgan-Grassley amendment to limit farm subsidies and use the savings to increase conservation programs got 56 of the Senate's 100 votes – but it lost, because determined opponents used the threat of a filibuster to require a 60-vote supermajority to win. See the vote at http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00424.

The Brown-Sununu amendment, cutting subsidies to crop insurers to levels similar to those they received in the past, and using the savings to boost farm easement programs and cut the deficit, lost 32-63 (see the vote at http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00428 )
If your Senator voted for Dorgan-Grassley or Brown-Sununu, please write them to thank them. They stood up for increasing funding for land conservation, and we greatly appreciate their help.

There's still hope for significant increases in easement program funding, because the House has much higher funding than the Senate does. So funding, as well as the tax incentive, will be an issue in the House-Senate conference to negotiate the final bill that goes to the President.

We will need your help to make good things for conservation happen in that conference - we will be in touch soon!

Russell Shay
Director of Public Policy
Land Trust Alliance
1660 L Street, NW Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20036
202-638-4725 x 305
rshay@lta.org

For the latest updates on the NEW TAX INCENTIVE go to www.lta.org/publicpolicy !

Sign up to be a Land Trust ADVOCATE at: http://www.lta.org/publicpolicy/advocates.htm
Land Trust Alliance ~ 1660 L St. NW, Suite 1100 ~ Washington DC, 20036 ~ (202) 638-4725

updated 12/14/07