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Baucus says Farm Bill to have modifications, but nothing serious |
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Wednesday, 17 January 2007 |
By Buck Traxler
I-O Editor
Sen. Max Baucus (D) was in Conrad Saturday to hold a listening session with Ag producers on their concerns and ideas for the 2007 Farm Bill.
In an opening statement, the Senator told a group of more than 60 folks, “I’m lucky, I have 900,0000 employers.”
He told the farmers and ranchers, “My sense is there will be some modifications, but nothing serious.” Baucus noted the Farm Bill is getting some bad press in the east, but the good news was that Sen. Tom Harkin was giving it a lot of support.
The meeting got off to a peculiar start when the Senator opened the meeting to the floor. Area resident Ronald Nichols jumped up and passed a letter around which in substance said, “Agriculture is the number one reason we have cancer.”
He rambled for a few seconds, then left, hopped on a bike and rode away.
 SENATOR Max Baucus addresses more than 60 farmers and ranchers while holding a listening session for input on the new Farm Bill. The event was held at Norley Hall on Saturday morning. He also talked to city and county officials about a STAG grant for the wastewater facility project. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
Gary Gollehon got some chuckles when he stood up and told the Senator, “What we need is a no farm left behind program.”
Dale Keil commented that it was hard to sort out problems in a hour. He would like to see some “emphasis on water storage,” in the Farm Bill.
Baucus said, “Democrats want to show we’re fiscally responsible – there may not be a whole lot of new money.”
Besides the farm issues, health insurance was a noted topic as well. One woman told the Senator, “Our health insurance is more than our food bill.”
Baucus agreed saying, “We have a very complex and inefficient system.”
From Norley Hall, the Senator went to the Home Cafe meeting room where he met with city and county officials who hoped to secure what had been an earmarked $750,000 STAG (State Tribal Agriculture Grant) for the wastewater facility project. With the November election in the books, Democrats now control the Appropriations Committee in Washington, D.C. for both the Senate and House. They have placed a moratorium on all earmarks until a reformed process is put in place.
The STAG grant for Conrad was earmarked, but not “appropriated” and will have to be re-applied for in 2008.
Mayor John Shevlin made a case for the $750,0000 grants noting, “The impact to citizens will be great if we don’t get it.”
The city has approximately $250,000 from previous increases and a $500,000 TSEP grant, however, the project will cost $1.8 million.
The city does not have a permit from the DEQ and has two cells that are full of sludge.
Agnes Fowler, city finance officer told the Senator, “We are looking at a 25 percent sewer rate increase to local users” if the STAG grant is lost.
Baucus said that “earmarks have dropped out, so we’ll have to come back (re-apply).” He went on to add, “We’re in a never-never land right now, so no one knows what’s going to happen.”
He has told his office to focus on Hi-Line water projects such as St. Mary’s and Rocky Boy.
He noted, “Conrad Burns got a lot of money for these projects, but he’s not there now.” That in reference to his recent loss in the election to Jon Tester. (D).
With that the mayor said, “We’ll go ahead and re-apply for a new STAG grant.”
Sen. Baucus said, “I’ll work with you, you’re my employer.”
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