Kansas 1st District candidates Tracey Mann, Paul Buskirk plow into Farm Bill, Middle East conflict

Candidates despair about Farm Bill gridlock, Israel’s war, immigration policy
Democrat Paul Buskirk, who is running for U.S. House in the 1st District, said failure of Congress to pass a new five-year Farm Bill in the past year was a “glaring example of the failure of government.” (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)
Democrat Paul Buskirk, who is running for U.S. House in the 1st District, said failure of Congress to pass a new five-year Farm Bill in the past year was a “glaring example of the failure of government.” (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA—Republican U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann and Democratic challenger Paul Buskirk shared frustration Thursday that Congress failed to pass a new fiveyear Farm Bill despite a reprieve when gridlock blocked progress a year ago.

In 2023, President Joe Biden signed a measure extending the 2018 Farm Bill for 12 months. Expiration of that deal Sept. 30 meant Congress would return after the election for a la…