Kent Conrad: “on a different matter, on Friday last, I learned that the Republicans on the House side have now broken the promise to…”

“on a different matter, on Friday last, I learned that the Republicans on the House side have now broken the promise to farmers contained in the most recent farm bill. Mr. President, I think everyone in this Chamber remembers that America's farmers were told that if you accept this new farm bill that has sharply declining payments in it and has no safety net for when prices plunge, you will at least be assured that for the 7 years of this farm bill the payments contained in that will be guaranteed. In fact, the proponents of the so-called Freedom to Farm Act told the American farm producers that this is like a contract. In fact, they related it to the Conservation Reserve Program contracts. They said, ``Farmers, at least you will be assured you are going to get payments of these amounts.'' Mr. President, last week, the House Appropriations subcommittee broke the promise, violated the pledge, and said to the American farmers that that was all a trick. We promised you a contract, but we are breaking the contract before the ink is even dry. The farm bill has just been signed into law, and already you might as well throw it out the window because the fundamental pledge and promise has turned out to be a hoax.”