Russ Feingold: “at the beginning of the 104th Congress I thought it inconceivable, given the deregulatory and market-oriented rhetoric…”

“at the beginning of the 104th Congress I thought it inconceivable, given the deregulatory and market-oriented rhetoric of some of our Senate leaders, that the Northeast Dairy Compact would be granted approval. It is the antithesis of market orientation. It seeks to protect agricultural producers in one particular region by imposing artificially high costs on consumers. In fact, this compact flies in the face of the rhetoric associated with this very farm bill. I've heard so many Senators claim this bill allows farmers to make decisions based on the market, not on Government payments. But the compact attempts to insulate a small group of farmers from the very market conditions this bill embraces so tightly. Mr. President, I am opposing this farm bill for the many reasons I have outlined today. And I know this bill will pass. I intend to fight hard for the upper Midwest as both the Northeast compact and Federal order measures proceed through the administrative process. I will work with Secretary Glickman to ensure that meaningful reform of Federal milk marketing orders is implemented in a timely manner. And if, as the minority leader has suggested, this is a 1 year farm bill, I will be back on this floor trying to improve dairy farmer income which is so badly slashed in this bill. I yield the floor.”