US Rep. Mike Flood discusses federal shutdown, Farm Bill

Congressman Mike Flood visited the Nebraska Public Media studios Wednesday morning to discuss the federal government shutdown and other pending federal legislation. He spoke with All Things Considered host Jackie Ourada.

Jackie Ourada: We're entering the second week of the federal government shutdown. How much longer do you see this lasting?

U.S. Rep. Mike Flood: Well, last Sunday, I'd hoped that we'd be done with this by the end of the week. But here's what I know, the next federal paycheck for our troops, and our air traffic controllers and our TSA agents is about Oct. 15, which would be next Wednesday, and I understand that the Democrats' base have scheduled a No Kings protest in Washington D.C., and what I'm hearing among colleagues in Washington is that the Democrats are in no mood to come to the table until after that protest. Now, we'll see if that's actually true or not. I think missing a paycheck for our troops is a pretty big deal, but if it were me, this would have never happened.

Ourada: It seems like the bargaining chip here is extending the Affordable Care Act, enhanced tax credits. Is that something you're willing to negotiate on in order to get to a common ground?

Flood: Well, first of all, let's look at what the House passed. You know, if we had included a poison pill in that bill, I would understand the situation differently. All we did in the House was extend the same budget that all the Democrats helped craft and voted for in the 118th Congress, and it voted to extend in March. Now here's the thing with the ACA tax credits: As I understand it, there are maybe 100,000 Nebraskans using these tax credits. I also know there's been a lot of fraud in the program, and the Biden White House acknowledged that when they were in charge. I do think we need to do some kind of an extension, at a minimum, because pulling the rug out from underneath people for their health care with very little notice is not good. This was done by Democrats in 2021 and they set it to expire at the end of 2025. We can do that. In fact, we are going to do that because we have to deal with the budget by Nov. 21, that's where all of this should come. There's also going to be things I want in the budget. I want economic aid for our farmers, specifically our soybean farmers. We need it. There's a lot on the table here for Democrats to say, "Oh, by the way, it's the ACA tax credits." If you look at their bill, they also want to repeal the changes we made to Medicaid and the One Big, Beautiful Bill. The target's moving all the time. Just sign up a couple Democrats, and let's move on.

Ourada: There has been some messaging on some federal websites and thinking of the U.S. Forest Service saying the radical left has shut down the government. Do you think that kind of rhetoric or language helps?

Flood: Well, this is all part of Donald Trump's style, right? And Americans now for 10 years have been dealing with and understanding how he works and what he does, and he's won a majority of Americans last November. Listen, we all have our own style. That's not my style. My style is to seek common ground where it's possible. My style is to treat people the way I want to be treated, and to thank the federal workers that are working their tails off to serve all of us.

Ourada: I'm glad you brought up the soybean farmers, because I just did a story with Mark McHargue and John Hansen, leaders of the big farm groups here in Nebraska, and they were saying it's getting pretty dire. Financially, we could have a record harvest, and that could all be going straight to storage. What kind of economic relief would you like to see?

Flood: Well, I heard somebody banter around the number of $10 billion. I think it's probably closer to $50 billion. I think everything you're hearing from the Farm Bureau and the Farmers Union is right. Listen, we're in a period of transition, we have fought for markets and markets and markets, and China knows what they're doing. They're applying the maximum amount of pressure. We have to get through this period of transition. If we can get through this period of transition, not only will we hopefully have a trade deal, but there's a La Nina happening, which means the Southern Hemisphere is going to start heating up. That's going to make soybeans in North America far more attractive in the upcoming two growing seasons. So when you look at the horizon, I think we've got good things ahead. We have to get through this period of transition, and we have to look at loan forbearance. We have to look at the FSA (Farm Service Agency) backstopping some of these loans. We have to look at direct economic aid through the CCC (Commodity Credit Corp.).We also need year-round E-15. If we got all those things, we could be poised for America's golden age of agriculture. I mean, I truly believe it, but we've got to manage this transition.

Ourada: And in the same conversations I had with them, speaking about soybeans, corn and where that's going to go. They had reiterated something seriously needs to be done with the Farm Bill, and serious conversations have to happen to be for it to be reworked and modernized. Where is the Farm Bill and how do you see that playing out the rest of the year?

Flood: Well, the good news is, in the reconciliation bill, we got a lot of what we needed done immediately, but they're right, the Farm Bill is important. And I said before this shutdown, however the government funding goes on Oct. 1 will be how I predict the farm bill goes. And that shouldn't leave anybody with the impression that I think it's going to go well. You know, the Democrats are in no mood to compromise. They are in no mood. They are reacting to their base that wants them to be, you know, at odds with President Trump, but we have some pretty serious issues we got to get through, and I hope we can find a way to thaw that out.

Ourada: That was Congressman Mike Flood visiting Nebraska Public Media. Thanks so much for being here.

Flood: Thank you.