Republicans Thursday defended their "Freedom to Farm" law, contending that poor trade policy and not the 1996 free-market reforms are to blame for low farm prices.
After meeting with 11 major farm organizations, GOP senators told reporters they would press for passage of such issues as fast-track trade negotiating authority for the president, the $18 billion International Monetary Fund bailout of faltering Asian economies and changes in U.S. economic sanctions that affect agriculture."It is important to keep `Freedom to Farm' on track," said Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho. "We cannot retreat into the past. The rest of the world is not going to retreat with us."
The session, which included Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., came a day after Democratic leaders blamed low commodity prices on the 1996 law that is gradually removing federal intervention in the farm economy. Democrats say government must step in to help farmers overcome the price declines.
Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said the Democrats were using agriculture's woes for "partisanship in an even-numbered year" and that both sides would be better served to work toward real solutions instead of election-year bashing.
The Senate Republicans were heartened by news that House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., plans to schedule a vote on fast-track trade authority in the fall. They listed several other priority items, including reform of estate taxes, allowing loans on Freedom to Farm transition payments and special savings accounts for farmers.