Republicans Defend Freedom to Farm, Link Gore to Unwanted Rules

August 3, 2000

Republicans defended the current farm bill without ruling out the possibility of changes, and made it clear they will appeal for farm votes by linking Vice President Gore with environmental regulation that many farmers and ranchers see as heavy-handed.

Republican speakers at a farm and ranch breakfast in Philadelphia Wednesday repeatedly mentioned Gore in the same breath as his "former staffer," Environmental Protection Agency administrator Carol Browner. Browner is controversial among farm groups, as is her agency, because of movements to regulate livestock and poultry operations, phase out some farm chemicals and take other steps.

"These are the things that farmers are afraid of," said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX). "They have seen eight years of this administration and this EPA. ... Many of the policies that have come under this administration are unattainable," Combest said. Combest said many environmental regulations do not pass what he called the "stupid test."

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) said Republicans will continue to defend the 1996 "freedom to farm" law. Roberts and other speakers, however, put more emphasis on the law’s planting flexibility than on its fixed payments and relatively low loan rates. Roberts also said a Republican administration would help Congress deliver on the "other side of the ledger" – tax relief, trade expansion and regulatory reform that were promised along with freedom to farm.

Presidential soon-to-be-nominee George W. Bush did not speak at the breakfast, held in conjunction with the Republican national convention. However, former President George Bush did, and was the morning’s most warmly received speaker. Though he joked about his famous aversion to broccoli, Bush spent little time talking about farming and instead spoke of his pride in Governor Bush, pointedly saying his son will bring "honor and dignity" back to the White House.