Dick Lugar: “I want to make general comments about the farm bill. I appreciate the distinguished chairman of our committee, Senator…”

“I want to make general comments about the farm bill. I appreciate the distinguished chairman of our committee, Senator Harkin, and others are even at this moment involved in drafting a new bill. At some point, my understanding is they will come forward with a substitute for the entire bill which is now before us. I am not supercritical of this procedure, although it does raise some questions on our side. We have not seen the new text and will not see the new text for some time, apparently. It is still in the hands of legislative counsel, I am advised, working its way through. I make this point because this has characterized the procedure, unfortunately, in the committee and on the floor. Members may or may not wish to know what is in the farm bill. I think it is important. Very clearly, there are many Members who want to debate and pass the farm bill and fairly rapidly. They are joined by those outside this Chamber. I cite, for example, the December 8, 2001, issue of Congressional Quarterly, in which the headline is 'Fear of Budget Constraints and 2002 Galvanizes Farm Bill Supporters.' The article goes on to say: The specter of a tight Federal budget next year with less money for farm subsidies has agricultural lobbyists and their allies in Congress pushing for final action on a farm bill before lawmakers leave this month.”