Drought Aid Dead, For Now

<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/12/06/news/state/55-drought.txt" >Drought aid derailed again</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Congressional efforts to provide billions of dollars in agricultural disaster aid were thwarted again Tuesday, leaving the issue to languish until Democrats take over both chambers in January.<br />n<br />nNorth Dakota Sens. Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan, both Democrats, attempted to attach $4.8 billion in aid for struggling farmers to an agriculture spending bill.<br />n<br />nBut Republicans objected to the provision as the White House issued a veto threat, saying it was too expensive. Supporters were not able to get the 60 votes to overcome the objection.</blockquote><br />n<br />nNo surprise here, I expected as much. The question becomes if the Democratic Congress will be able to muster the will power to pass Drought Aid and if it does, not a sure thing if you ask me, will The President veto it. The President has vowed to veto any disaster aid for farmers so it will be interesting to see if he follows through.<br />n<br />nThe whole disaster thing drags on. I'm sure glad I am not holding my breathe over it and in dire need of it. A person could die waiting for politicians to make up their minds.<br />n<br />n<strong>You have to wait until the thing crystallizes in your own mind, and very often some of the ideas you have to abandon because they are of such an improvisational nature that we have really no notation that is adequate enough to be able to explicitly put it down on paper. Leo Ornstein</strong>