Dairy Interests Watch for Last-Minute Vote

November 15, 1999

Proponents and opponents of a controversial milk pricing scheme are watching to see if Congress gives final approval to the legislation and whether dairy compacts will get new life. The National Milk Producers Federation says efforts are being made to attach the milk pricing provisions to one of the remaining appropriations bills.

The House voted two months ago on the milk pricing bill, H.R. 1402, that contains higher milk prices for most producers. NMPF says negotiations are ongoing between the bill's supporters and House and Senate leaders to get the measure attached to an appropriations bill. Efforts to have it included in the agricultural appropriations bill failed.

Lawmakers from New England, New York and the Southeast are trying to get Congress to approve legislation that extends the Northeast Dairy Compact and authorize a compact for states throughout the South, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS reports.

Speaking to the 133^rd National Grange Convention in Portland, ME, Rep. Thomas Allen (D-ME) said he would support the compact legislation to push it through Congress in "the next few days." The Northeast Dairy Compact was to expire Oct. 1, but a federal court restraining order has kept it operating.

Allen claims the bill has bipartisan support and good prospects for passage if it can be attached to other legislation. Senators from the Upper Midwest have vowed to filibuster any efforts to revive the compact issue.