Dick Lugar: “Mr. President, let me make as clear as I can the parliamentary situation. We have tried, in the Ag Committee since last…”

“Mr. President, let me make as clear as I can the parliamentary situation. We have tried, in the Ag Committee since last fall, to pass a sound research bill. We succeeded last fall. The House did not act finally until the end of the session and did not appoint conferees until a short time ago. It has been a very difficult conference--not the first time such a thing has occurred. Conferences in the Congress have occurred frequently. Compromises are made. Mr. President, to suggest glibly that we can go back to conference if the motion made by the Senator from Texas passes, simply excise what he wishes, and return to the Senate with a bill, is inaccurate. I have tested the conferees, and they will not change. The Senator from Texas may not change. Furthermore, if changes are made, the Secretary of Agriculture has written to the committee that he will recommend the President veto the bill. Now we can all estimate, Is the President bluffing? Is the Secretary accurate? Will somebody weaken on the House side--maybe many people--and suddenly see the light? Conceivably, Mr. President. And I pledge I will try. Patiently, for 6 months, I have tried, and if need be, I will continue to do that. My prediction is, there will be a considerable delay with regard to crop insurance, probably a year or 2 delay in terms of research, and in due course I have no idea what will happen on the food stamp issue.”