Political Quotes

“I would like to make another note about this process being hijacked for the last year and a half. When we started talking about drought and disaster relief and agriculture, the number was much smaller. In the meantime, we did pass a farm bill that I reluctantly supported. Of course, I was a party, with the Senator from Kansas, in offering a substitute amendment that I think would have been better for agriculture. We have a circumstance at this time in this particular case where the money was taken out of agriculture and a drought where you have no crop for sale. We have a cashflow problem. In other words, we would like to see our agricultural producers go to the insurance program--we think it is much better than it was, say, 2 years ago--and to assume some responsibility in risk management. That is not the case now because of the drying up of funds over the last year and a half. The circumstances have changed. Thus, we have the amendment on the floor that is before us today. I appreciate the work the Senator from Kansas has done in providing real help instead of getting into a position where we fall to the whims of politics. There are circumstances that arise that make this issue a very contentious issue. I thank him for his work.”