June 23, 1999

Democrats want not only emergency farm legislation in the form of a $6.5 billion relief measure by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) but also congressional action to require large meat packing plants to report prices they pay for livestock. And, says Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), "we have to recognize that the current policies aren't working."

Farmer advocates from six Midwest states are in Washington to lobby for the Harkin relief bill. "These people came to Washington because they understand the need for immediate action by Congress to address the farm crisis," Daschle said. "They can see what this crisis is doing to communities across rural America and know that our current farm policies aren't working."

Congress must "deal with the immediate needs in farm country by passing emergency funding to help struggling farmers and ranchers get through this crisis," Daschle said. In addition, "we need to ensure that any legislation requiring large meat packing companies to report the prices they pay for livestock is effective and does not undermine the price reporting laws that several states have already enacted."

Passage of price reporting legislation this year is considered highly likely by most Washington observers. However, the degree to which such legislation would preempt stricter state laws is being debated.

And Congress has to recognize "that the current policies aren't working, and we need to restore a farm safety net and giver our producers the tools they need to fairly compete in the market," he added.

Republicans have tried to get President Clinton to propose a formal emergency farm aid plan, but Daschle said, "We can't wait for the administration, frankly. I think Republicans are hiding behind the request. We've just got to press forward with or without any kind of formal request from the President."

Perhaps ironically, the Democrats' push for new legislation came the same day they again held up action on the 2000 agriculture appropriation bill in order to debate health-care legislation.