Farm Bill Conference Committee to Meet

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas will chair the first meeting of the farm bill conference committee. Committee members have the difficult task of reconciling a House bill that cuts 39-billion dollars from food stamps over the next 10 years and 60-billion dollars overall - with a Senate bill that cuts 4.5-billion dollars from food stamps and 24.5-billion dollars overall.

POLITICO has reported the House Republican leadership does not plan to hold a vote on immigration reform legislation before the end of the year. For supporters - the big concern is that pushing immigration reform to 2014 - an election year - could make it even tougher to get legislation through the deeply divided Congress.

Triple-A has called for the Environmental Protection Agency to lower 2014 blending requirements - claiming higher level ethanol blends will hurt consumers. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen criticized AAA - noting that E15 is the most tested fuel additive in EPA history and over 40 studies conclude no evidence of damage on engines.