Food Safety Bill a Rare Moment of Bipartisanship

(Nov. 30) -- The Senate, expecting gridlock on key issues such as tax cuts and arms treaties, had an unusual moment of aisle-crossing today when it passed a hotly debated measure designed to beef up the government's power to issue recalls and monitor safety conditions for food producers.

The Food Safety Modernization Act passed 73-25, with 56 Democrats and 15 Republicans voting in favor. All of the nay votes came from Republicans, but in today's strictly partisan Congress, the 15 crossover votes still represent an impressive consensus.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada made a particular mention of Republican support in a statement.

"No one in America should have to worry if the food they put on the table every night is going to harm them or their families," he said. "The bipartisan bill we passed today will make sure that continues to be true.

"I am grateful to [Democratic] Senators [Richard] Durbin and [Tom] Harkin for their invaluable leadership on this issue, and appreciate the Republicans who joined us to pass this measure to ensure peace of mind at dinner tables across the country."

An attempt to include in the bill a ban on earmarks, a Republican favorite with some Democratic support, was defeated 39-56.

The controversial food safety measure stalled in the Senate for more than a year before lawmakers agreed to hold a vote today. The opposition also defied traditional political lines -- libertarian tea partiers and liberals alike were wary of the effect that increasing the power of the Food and Drug Administration would have on small producers. An amendment offered by Sen. John Tester, D-Mont., designed to protect small farms from the same regulations applied to their large counterparts, was passed along with the bill.

But the Food Safety Modernization Act isn't law yet. The bill still has to make it through the House, and it's unclear whether some members will be willing to give up the more comprehensive bill they passed last year. Time is running out for the lame-duck Congress, and supporters worry that any kind of protracted debate could put the bill out of commission until the new Congress takes office in January.

Despite today's display of bipartisanship, congressional gridlock could be the norm for the foreseeable future. Although Republicans have won control of the House, they're still the minority in the Senate, meaning that major legislative proposals from either party are likely to meet stiff opposition.