Prior to leaving for their holiday recess, Congress approved a continuing resolution to fund the government through January 19. It included a waiver of PAYGO rules for agriculture. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson says without the waiver in the CR there would be no way to write a new farm bill.

He says while the waiver is beneficial, because the tax reform legislation will increase the federal deficit it will still be difficult to get enough money to write a farm bill with an adequate safety net.

Johnson says Congress is overlooking the major problem the country is facing, which is the rising federal deficit.

Johnson says Congress is going to be forced to make massive spending cuts or go back and put some of the taxes back on corporations and the wealthy individuals that benefitted from tax reform legislation.