It appears likely the Senate will make the attempt to invoke cloture on a filibuster by senators from the Northeast who are unhappy that the agriculture appropriations conference report does not include an extension of the Northeast Dairy Compact. If the necessary 60 votes develop for cloture, the Senate will move again to take up the appropriations conference report.

Reports from Capitol Hill were somewhat confusing. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) was reported ready to file a motion for cloture, but such a motion was not filed on Wednesday. But there also were reports the motion was not filed Wednesday. Yet, the Senate cloakroom was reporting that the Senate would return to the agricultural appropriations bill after the conclusion of the Labor-HHS appropriations conference report debate, expected later today.

Sen. Jim Jeffords (R-VT) has said he and other Northeast senators would "call for the rejection" of the ag appropriations bill. Jeffords said his opposition also was based on the failure to include a milk pricing option in the bill that is considered more favorable to many dairy farmers than the pricing option in USDA's final rule on milk marketing orders. Other Northeast Senators who have vowed to oppose the agriculture appropriations bill include Republican Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Democrats Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Robert Torricelli of New Jersey.

"How can Congress approve an agriculture bill with billions of dollars in relief for some farmers with almost nothing for our dairy farmers without an extension of our dairy compact?" Jeffords asks. "I understand the importance of funding these programs and the need to provide relief for some farmers. However, dairy farmers throughout the country and drought stricken farmers in the Northeast have been ignored in this bill."

The appropriations bill does include $125 million for dairy assistance.

Jeffords' full statement can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.senate.gov/~jeffords/compact10699.html.