Thomas Daschle: “I do not know what the solution is, but I think the majority leader and I both agree that we have to do something. We…”

“I do not know what the solution is, but I think the majority leader and I both agree that we have to do something. We have a lot of farmers who have already planted everything that they are going to plant for their winter wheat, for their crops. That will be ready for harvest by spring or late spring. We have to do something. If we cannot do it in 1 year, maybe a 2-year extension is something that we ought to look at. But I do not think that doing nothing ought to be an option that either party agrees to. While there is very little support on the other side of the aisle for the so-called marketing loan concept, that marketing loan would allow farmers to be given at least the confidence that they are going to have a plan out there that is market-sensitive; that costs less for the Government; that provides us with the kind of opportunity in the farm program that many farmers feel they need. Virtually every national farm organization has said they support it. So I hope we can work something out. I know that in working with majority leader in good faith, we can find a way to resolve what may now appear to be some very difficult challenges in agreeing on a farm policy. But we have to do it. I hope we can do it as early as next week. We cannot wait much longer.”