Burns Critical of Glickman's Call for Price Reporting Money

October 29, 1999

Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) says it "really boils my blood" that Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman says there is no money to implement the livestock price reporting section of the agricultural appropriations bill. Glickman says $4.7 million is needed; Burns says Glickman easily can find the funds within the USDA budget.

Glickman can "reprogram" up to 7% of USDA"s budget for purposes other than those specified by Congress, says Burns. "There isn't one advocate for the average producer left in the USDA...Dan Glickman only needs to divert .00783% of the USDA budget to start this program."

At a news conference earlier this week, Glickman said he is not able to divert money from other USDA programs to fund the livestock price reporting section of the ag appropriations bill. Money will have to be appropriated by Congress, probably in a supplemental appropriations bill, he added.