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Senators push for $4 billion in farm aid"If we don't like being dependent on foreign sources of oil, think what it would be like if we had to depend on other countries for food because it had become impossible to produce food in this country in a safe, reliable and cost-effective manner," she said. "To me, this is a slap in the face to the heartland of this country, and that's why I plan to fight it." LITTLE ROCK (AP)--Arkansas' two U.S. senators are trying to secure nearly $4 billion in farm aid as part of a $106.5 billion emergency appropriation, despite the threat of a veto from President Bush. Sen. Mark Pryor said in a conference call April 26 with reporters that the additional funding was critical for farmers in Arkansas and around the country. The state's other U.S. senator, Blanche Lincoln, a Democrat like Pryor, said she would fight any veto by Bush. Farmers are "in the midst of financial collapse," Pryor said. "We need a very healthy agriculture community in this country. Unfortunately, this administration just doesn't see it that way." The proposed Senate bill includes $67 billion for war operations, $27 billion for hurricane relief and $2.3 billion to prevent an outbreak of avian flu. The proposal exceeds Bush's February request by more than $14 billion with add-ons for farm aid, highway repairs and aid to the Gulf Coast fishing industry, among other items. In a recent statement, Bush said the farm disaster relief in the bill was unnecessary after a booming 2005 crop year. But Pryor said farmers were being hurt by soaring energy costs, a drought and hurricane damage. "Given the nature of the commodity markets, the farmers cannot pass their costs on to anybody," he said. The $106.5 billion package will be considered by the full Senate in early May, though Pryor said he expects lawmakers to tack on additional amendments. The farm aid add-on had the bipartisan support of 25 senators, including Pryor and Lincoln. "It's inexplicable that there's a real hostility to American agriculture in this White House," Pryor said. "You see it time and time again. We really run into it head on in terms of trying to get some disaster relief for our farmers." In a statement April 26, Lincoln expressed dismay with Bush's stance and his threatened veto. "For the life of me, I've yet to understand why the Bush Administration would oppose this emergency agricultural assistance," Lincoln said. "If we don't like being dependent on foreign sources of oil, think what it would be like if we had to depend on other countries for food because it had become impossible to produce food in this country in a safe, reliable and cost-effective manner," she said. "To me, this is a slap in the face to the heartland of this country, and that's why I plan to fight it." Date: 5/25/06
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