I have a new Free Trade Bulletin out today that pours all manner of scorn on the notion that the farm bills passed out of the House and Senate agriculture committees last week in any way represent decent reform. The FTB comes just in time for a farm-bill-themed Hill Briefing tomorrow. I cannot attend the briefing, unfortunately, but my colleague Chris Edwards will be there to give ‘em hell, as will our friends from the Environmental Working Group, Taxpayers for Common Sense, and the R Street Institute. Sterling fellows all. 

Congress still — despite record deficits, high commodity and farmland prices, and a growing sense that the country is headed in the wrong direction — refuses to have a fundamental debate about the appropriate role of the federal government in farm and rural affairs (my two cents: none). They’re too busy squabbling about how to divide the spoils between North/​Midwest and South, and rural vs. urban interests. America deserves better.