By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – The clock is ticking for lawmakers in the nation’s capitol to find common ground on a new farm bill before the November presidential election.

Last year, lawmakers signed off on extending the current farm bill until September 30, just days before the general election.

However, Democratic Congressman Eric Sorensen, who represents parts of Bloomington-Normal, is voting no unless lawmakers include a nutrition program.

“I talk with people in our district who are still struggling to make ends meet,” he said on WJBC’s morning show with Scott Miller. “Now is not the time to say ‘you know instead of $120 bucks, you are going to get $60 to feed your kid.’

It’s not just the people who need it. I talk with farmers and producers and they say the same thing.”

The current extension of the farm bill expiries just before the Presidential election on Sept. 30.

Finding common ground before the general election could be difficult as Democrats control the Senate and Republicans control the House of Representatives.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].