The Nation

The 1985 farm bill returned to what has become its usual state -- uncertainty -- after a bipartisan Senate agreement on key provisions fell apart. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas, said, “At least we’ve identified who’s holding it up,” after a committee meeting in which Sen. John Melcher (D-Mont.) conceded he had filed an objection to taking up contentious commodity sections of the bill. Melcher said he objected because he wants to be prepared with amendments if senators attempt to rescind a four-year freeze on farm income subisdy levels he narrowly won in a vote last week.