Political Quotes

“I feel like we ought to start negotiations again in regard to the budget. I think there is an opportunity to get a balanced budget now and in the immediate future. I think if we have a long recess that we will stand a chance of losing what momentum there is, and it may well be that in the near future, we can narrow the issues by adopting some of the various issues that have been agreed upon. Mr. President, for the first time in over 40 years, farm programs have been allowed to expire. As of December 31, with a few exceptions, the authority for farm programs has run out. It is the responsibility of this Congress, to pass a farm bill every 5 years or so, and create stability and certainty in rural America. Instead, with the failure of passing a farm bill, there is uncertainty, frustration and confusion in the agriculture producing areas of the country. Congress has failed in its responsibility to rural America and we must, therefore, act now to resolve this situation. What can be done at this late date, what are our options? As I see it, we have three options: First, we can do nothing and allow the Secretary of Agriculture to implement the Agriculture Act of 1949, second, we can pass a stand-alone farm bill, as we should have done in the first session, or third, we can pass an extension of the 1990 farm bill, thus providing rural America with much needed certainty and allow Congress more time to write a farm bill this year.”