Prairie Public Broadcasting

Farm BIll Finalized! FARGO, ND (NDPR) - Senator Kent Conrad says the final product is a strong piece of legislation. Conrad says all sides had to compromise in order to craft the final bill, but he says there is a lot to be gained as a result...

"...The Disaster Aid package had been funded at $5-Billion, we had to reduce that to $3.8-Billion. Direct payments had to be reduced by 2%. But in terms of our negotiating objectives, every single one of our negotiating objectives was achieved --that is, we have a budgeted and paid for Disaster Bill."

Conrad says the measure also goes a long way to meeting the demands set out by the Bush Administration But he says that doesn't guarantee a signature from the President...

"...Early on they said the key is, to getting the President's support is that you can't pay for this with any tax increases. We met that objective. Then they said you have to have substantial reform. We didn't do it precisely the way he wanted it, but this the most dramatic reform since 1949. So we, in spirit, met his complaints. Then at the very end they say the real issue,' is how the scoring is done to the bill -- what the estimates of the cost are. We have followed the rules of scoring in the Congress of the United States, the Congressional Budget Office does the estimates of the cost. They are the ones who say we are within the budget; that we have met exactly the requirements for paying for this legislation. So, for the Administration to say you've got timing changes that means the bill really cost more.' No. According to the official score keeper, we have met the budget to the penny."

Conrad says if the measure is vetoed, they may be able to override it in the Senate. He says things are not as certain among members of the House.
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