Hanna Says Rejection of Farm Bill Hurts New York

10/5/2012 (Updated 7:02:23 PM)

Hanna was at a campaign kickoff Thursday in Binghamton and addressed a topic on the minds of many local farmers, the expiration of the federal farm bill.

Congress recessed before coming to agreement on a farm bill last month.

The Democrat-controlled senate passed a five-year bill the GOP led house rejected.

The house countered with a one-year bill the senate rejected. Hanna says it's an embarrassment congress didn't pass a farm bill.

"I'm not real sure why it wasn't taken up by the floor. A number of people including myself objected to that. Agriculture is 80% of the economy of upstate New York - is affected by agriculture," said Hanna.

Hanna says his office will soon announce a bill to restore food stamps that have been effected by the expiration of the farm bill.