Dick Lugar: “I observed during the past 48 hours that Senators have had an opportunity to offer amendments to the farm bill. I…”

“I observed during the past 48 hours that Senators have had an opportunity to offer amendments to the farm bill. I believe all witnesses to the debate would understand it has been spirited and vigorous. As a matter of fact, all of the amendments offered have been very relevant to agriculture. There were obviously many more amendments that Senators wished to offer that would be relevant to agriculture. We have compiled a list of 44 such amendments. In relation to the colloquy I just enjoyed with the distinguished chairman, two of those amendments--one to be offered by Senators Cochran and Roberts, and one to be offered by Senator Gordon Smith-- have been deemed germane by the majority leader's unanimous consent request, even if cloture is invoked. Those Senators have asked for this privilege simply because cloture would mean the possibility that very relevant amendments would be deemed nongermane. The problem for many Senators is that the agriculture bill has gone through several rewritings, including the bill offered by the distinguished chairman, Senator Harkin, but then supplanted by a complete substitute offered by the distinguished majority leader, Senator Daschle, with over 1,000 pages.”