Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) says Republican failure to pass "fundamental" farm policy changes this year make it necessary to hold hearings early in 2000 on "urgently needed changes." Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Richard Lugar (R-IN) also has refused "repeated requests" from Senate Democrats for farm policy hearings, says Daschle.

Last month, Congress enacted an $8.7 billion emergency farm package to deal with the ongoing farm crisis, the second straight year such a package was enacted. Dashcle said new farm policies are needed to avert another year of emergency spending.

"Emergency spending is no substitute for good public policy," said Daschle. "These hearings will show how current federal farm policy is devastating the economic well being of producers and communities across rural America, and they will allow senators and farm experts to discuss proposals for improving it."

The hearings will be convened by the Democratic Policy Committee. "Republicans in the House understand the need to examine the current failed farm policy," said Daschle, referring to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest's call for hearings in that committee in January. "We should follow suit in the Senate. But our chairman (Lugar) has said no. Given the outcry throughout rural America, from farmers, ranchers and rural communities alike, I hope this is not his last word on the subject. We simply cannot ignore the farm crisis and put the needs of rural America on hold."

Lugar has promised to act on a risk management reform bill in the agriculture committee no later than March 8, but not review farm policy in general. Combest, however, has said the House committee would review overall farm policy. The House has passed a crop insurance reform bill that the Senate has not considered.