Morning round-up: “Fiercely divided” edition

Republicans could have worked with Democrats on a bipartisan Farm Bill, but instead they are doing what they do best: fighting over an unpopular, controversial bill that no one on their side of the aisle likes. House GOP leaders are hearing it from all sides – hardline Members are outraged that the bill doesn’t go far enough, other Members are arguing that the nutrition assistance cuts are too extreme, and the President is threatening to veto it. Here’s a look at how the chaos is playing out. These headlines can’t be making Chairman Conaway too confident about the bill’s prospects:

National Journal: The Farm Bill’s Tough Path

“House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway appears determined to bring the farm bill to the House floor next week, and he may get the 215 Republican votes needed to pass it.”

“But the continuing uncertainty within the Trump administration over trade policy and the Renewable Fuel Standard, as well as the growing criticism of the changes to the food-stamp program, mean that the process of passing this bill is likely to be lengthy—if it passes in this Congress at all.”

“The bill’s farm-program provisions are another matter for conservatives. Representatives of the Heritage Foundation, Citizens Against Government Waste, Taxpayers for Common Sense, the R Street Institute, and the National Taxpayers Union all joined a call hosted by the Environmental Working Group on Tuesday to complain that the new bill is worse policy than current law…”