Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) reneged on an agreement he made with Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Blanch Lincoln (D-AR) to include a $1.5 billion agriculture disaster provision in the Jobs Bill, Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE), being readied for floor consideration.
A disappointed Lincoln, who had worked closely with Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) and other Senate Republicans to craft the disaster measure, said, “I hope the majority leader will reconsider. This bill was carefully crafted to achieve significant bipartisan support and contains several important measures to spur business growth and encourage new hires. Most Americans don’t honestly believe that a single political party has all the good ideas.”
Lincoln’s disaster package would have provided an estimated $1.1 billion in direct payment assistance to producers in counties declared “primary” disaster areas by USDA. Direct payments would have bridged the gap until 2009 Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program payments are issued this fall. It would have included $42 million to aid first handlers of cottonseed.
“Arkansas’ farm families, like many across the nation this year, have been devastated by weather-related disasters,” Lincoln said. “Heavy rains and flooding made last season’s harvest nearly impossible, and many producers are now unsure if they will be able to survive another year.” Lincoln, incredulous over Reid’s going back on his word, noted that agriculture is the backbone of Arkansas, providing over 270,000 jobs and contributing over $9 billion each year to its economy.
In addition to disaster relief, Lincoln had crafted an agreement with the Republican leadership to reduce the estate tax