From the heart of California farm country, "Final chance to end subsidies for millionaires:
Conference committee gives Pelosi, Reid a last opportunity to cut pork in farm bill":

The next time House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Harry Reid talk about ending poverty, stopping giveaways for wealthy corporations and finding bipartisan solutions, remember their work on the 2007 farm bill.

Before adjourning for the holidays, the Senate endorsed a $286 billion farm bill that is only slightly less wasteful and indefensible than the porkfest the House passed earlier in the year.

The editorial recounts the defeat of subsidy and income limit reforms and tips a hat to California senate Democrats Feinstein and Boxer for supporting the failed efforts after a super-majority margin of 60 was imposed to block change.

No, it's not too late to dramatically improve the dismal offerings that have emerged from the House and Senate, says the Bee:

As a Field Poll revealed last month, only 1 out of 5 Californians surveyed has a favorable opinion of Congress. Voters are frustrated that lawmakers and the White House can't find common ground on popular causes.

Reforming the farm bill should be one area where Democrats and Republicans should be able to agree. The reform coalition includes fiscal hawks, environmentalists, small farmers, supporters of fair trade and more than 300 editorial boards across the country.

All want a bill that rewards innovation, resource protection and a more healthful U.S. diet, while limiting the waste and abuse of past farm bills.

Pelosi and Reid could still move the farm bill in this direction. But to do so, they will have to show more courage than they did in 2007.