Dick Lugar: “That was my motivation. My general logic still is about the same--that we have a very crowded situation up front. But…”

“That was my motivation. My general logic still is about the same--that we have a very crowded situation up front. But that is not precluding either one of us from arguing for the farmers' interests up front as opposed to downstream, and a long way down the stream in the case of the Senator's amendment. Let me just try to clarify another point that has arisen along the way; namely, that the Lugar plan would be of great benefit to cigarette companies. The distinguished Senator from Kentucky has frequently said, ``Are you for the companies, or the farmers?'' I am for the farmer. I have made no mistake about that for years. The distinguished Senator from Kentucky will recall that I have been attempting to wrap up the tobacco program for many years--it is not a new endeavor--because I don't believe it is good agricultural policy. But leaving that aside, the charge is made that under the Lugar plan the tobacco prices would drop dramatically and the companies would, therefore, make more profit on each pack of cigarettes.”