Senate shows support for farm disaster aid

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By MARY CLARE JALONICK / The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Senate affirmed its support of farm disaster assistance Wednesday, voting 74-23 to provide about $4 billion to farmers and ranchers as part of a war spending bill.

Western and Midwestern members of Congress have been trying to find a way to reimburse farmers for losses due to drought, flooding and other disasters. Many Western states have suffered from years of drought.

Wednesday’s vote was on an amendment that tried to scuttle the disaster funding. The Senate is expected to vote on passage of the larger war spending bill by the end of the week.

Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said the vote is an important show of confidence.

“It is quite a powerful signal that most members understand how critical this is,” he said.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., offered the rejected amendment, saying the farm assistance is too expensive and did not belong in the $122 billion war spending bill.

Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., voted for Coburn’s amendment, even though the drought has affected some Wyoming ranchers. He has objected to the farm aid and other provisions of the bill that are not related to the war, and attempted to offer an amendment that would have eliminated all such spending from the bill. His amendment was not brought to the floor.

“The American public wants Congress to debate the tough issues, and spend their dollars wisely,” Thomas said. “Adding pet projects to emergency spending bills — which by definition are outside the normal budget process — is not the right way to accomplish that goal.”

The disaster assistance must still clear several hurdles, including a presidential veto threat of the war spending bill. President Bush has objected to provisions in the House and Senate bills that would set a timetable for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.