Robert Smith: “Maybe it is time that we reviewed the facts in this issue rather than listen to the rhetoric. So let me just review the…”

“Maybe it is time that we reviewed the facts in this issue rather than listen to the rhetoric. So let me just review the facts for one moment. The gentleman from Wisconsin offers to reduce the crop insurance program by $23 million, adding it to a $3.9 billion program for WIC. That is almost an insignificant addition, if we understand the immensity of the WIC program already. However, if we take that same amount from the crop insurance program, we destroy the crop insurance program, we reduce it by 20 percent, it will not be available for agriculture. There will be nobody to deliver the crop insurance. So while all of us are concerned with the WIC Program, as we should be, I note that this issue was never raised in committee. There were no negative votes on this question. Everybody seemed to have their arms thrown around the program offered by the chairman, until we reach the floor. Is this a hit-and-run on the committee system? I suggest it well may be. Where should this whole thing be decided? It should be decided where it has always been decided. The Secretary of Agriculture of the United States of America and crop insurers ought to sit down and negotiate this program.”