Sen Burns Delivers

A big part of Sen. Conrad Burns re-election campign, is how he delivers money to the state with his senority and how if Tester were elected, it wouldn't happen. So, how is Conrad's latest effort to bring the bacon home going?<br />n<br />n<a href="http://deltafarmpress.com/news/060925-disaster-bill/" >Senate leaders turn back Conrad disaster bill</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>The third time was not a charm as Senate Republican leaders once again blocked efforts by a bipartisan group of farm-state senators to provide assistance to farmers and ranchers hammered by weather disasters in 2005 and 2006.<br />n<br />n“A fair vote has been denied here in the Senate and the party in power has turned its back on American farmers,” said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. Conrad and Conrad Burns, R-Mont., Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and other senators introduced two other emergency assistance bills for 2005 and 2006 that have not become law.<br />n<br />n“This fight is far from over,” said Conrad, a member of the Agriculture Committee, following the action or lack of action in the Senate on Thursday. “I won’t stand by and let this be swept under the rug. The livelihoods of thousands of farm families are at stake.”</blockquote><br />n<br />nYou Bet, that seniority is really helping out now isn't it. <br />n<br />nThis indicates to me that the Senate leadership has effectively written off Sen. Burns as a lost cause. If they were serious about a Republican holding the seat they would be at least considering the disaster aid since it would help Burns in his race.<br />n<br />nNow, let's be truthful, Jon Tester would not be able to do any better on this issue so It's really not a positive point for him, just a negative point for Burns. If Tester is elected he definitely wouldn't have the seniority and clout to do anything about the disaster aid. This just goes to show that the Seniority idea, that Burns keeps touting, isn't all it is cracked up to be. It might help some but it isn't a magic wand that will solve all the problems a Senator faces. Poor Conrad, nothing is breaking very good for him this year.<br />n<br />n<strong>The only real influence I've ever had was myself. Edward Hopper</strong>