Max Baucus: “I thank my good friends from North Dakota, Louisiana, and others who are speaking against this amendment and explaining…”

“I thank my good friends from North Dakota, Louisiana, and others who are speaking against this amendment and explaining the facts. Once the facts are known, I believe Senators will know this amendment is not a good idea. We want a strong agriculture policy in America, and we want a level playing field. We know that much too often other countries tend to favor their producers, their industries, their companies at the expense of the United States, at least more so than we Americans do. Every other country has a more, if I can use the term, socialistic policy; that is, tends more toward Government intervention in helping the producers and companies and their industries, than does the United States. Frankly, it is the view of the United States that we be a more free market, more independent, and let producers and companies pursue their own agenda. At least on a comparative basis that has made us stronger than other countries. It is a major strength of America. Having said that, we clearly don't want to make matters worse. In the meantime, even though other countries do subsidize their producers or their companies or industries more than we do, we, through our ingenuity--this is a general statement; there are exceptions--are able to fight back with greater ingenuity, creativity, good old American can-do, common sense, and find a way to get the job done. We don't moan and complain but fight and get the job done. This amendment moves us in the opposite direction.”