Lincoln, Roberts Leading the Charge in Support of Ag Programs

By Jim.Robinson|March 30, 2009

In preparation for the upcoming budget debate, U.S. Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), along with a group of bipartisan Senators, have sent a letter to Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Ranking Member Judd Gregg (R-NH) strongly opposing the agriculture program cuts included in the President’s budget proposal and additional efforts to reopen the 2008 Farm Bill.

Roberts is a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a member of the Senate Finance Committee.

In addition to Roberts and Lincoln, the letter was signed by Senators Max Baucus (D-MT), Kit Bond (R-MO), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Richard Burr (R-NC), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Bob Corker (R-TN), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), James Inhofe (R-OK), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Mark Pryor (D-AR), David Vitter (R-LA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

“We have seen tremendous participation gains in the crop insurance program over the last 30 years. More producers are properly managing their risks to the benefit of producers, consumers and taxpayers,” Roberts said. “In a time of economic uncertainty, it doesn’t make sense to put 30 years of risk protection progress in further jeopardy.”

“The Farm Bill is a completely paid for, bipartisan product representing two years of negotiations and tremendous sacrifice on the part of production agriculture,” Lincoln said. “That agreement is not even one year old as the Administration proposes reopening those portions that affect producers. I look forward to working with the Administration and my colleagues in Congress on a responsible budget that cuts the deficit without jeopardizing the safe and abundant supply of food that is taken for granted all too often.”