David Thomas: “One is that if you came in here and you were listening to the difficulty that some talk about in getting this job done…”

“One is that if you came in here and you were listening to the difficulty that some talk about in getting this job done prior to the time the $5.5 billion disappears, then you would imagine the thing to do is to go ahead and have a bill similar to the House. Then it would be there, and we would come back with the other $2 billion, which is in the budget for next year. It isn't as if this is a long time off. It is right there, and it can be done. It isn't as if it isn't going to happen. It will happen. We are taking out next year's and putting it in this year. You can bet that there will be a request to replace that with new money next year. It is sort of an interesting debate. It is also interesting that the House version includes $4.6 billion in AMTA payments. There was mention by the Senator from Michigan that it didn't go beyond that. Actually, there is $424 million in economic assistance for oilseeds; $54 million in economic assistance for peanut producers; $129 million for tobacco; $17 million for wool and mohair; $85 million for cottonseeds; and $26 million for specialty crops, which is for the States to disperse. Over $3.5 million goes to Michigan which could go to apple growers. This idea that somehow the people have been left out is simply not the case.”