Bob Kerrey: “Let me ask specifically on the ag disaster income loss, it seems to me--this is for 1999 that had been promised…”

“Let me ask specifically on the ag disaster income loss, it seems to me--this is for 1999 that had been promised previously-- this is just a matter of keeping a promise that was made previously. The Senator still would not--he can shake his head no if the answer is no. I am seeking some way to build on what Senator Grassley and Senator Conrad have done, which is trying to split the difference here and come up with a proposal. Their proposal, for example, the most controversial one right off the bat, was they have all the money going out in an AMTA payment. As the Senator from Mississippi knows, the earlier effort reached by partisan agreement was one of the most difficult issues. Democrats wanted the money to go out in LDPs, and Republicans wanted it to go out in AMTA. We yielded in the bipartisan proposal of which I am fully supportive. It seems to me it would be reasonable at least to consider putting this 1999 assistance that has been promised on the appropriations bill. Does the Senator not agree with that?”