Baucus proposes tax credits, bonds and trust funds for Farm Bill

Washington (AP) The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Democrat Max Baucus of Montana is proposing a series of Agricultural tax credits, bonds and a trust fund. It's part of a farm bill that would give billions in aid to farmers, and pay for the nation's nutrition programs.

Baucus says his committee will find an extra 8 to 10 billion dollars through new Agriculture-related tax proposals. That would be added to the bill's baseline spending, estimated to be more than 280 billion dollars over five years.

Money has been tight for the farm bill, a politically popular piece of legislation that expires this year. As the September 30th deadline looms, farm-state lawmakers have scrambled to find a way to pay for it.

The Baucus proposals include a trust fund that would pay for weather-related disaster assistance.

By AP Writer Mary Clare Jalonick (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-11-07 1104CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list