Farm state senators asked family farmers Tuesday to help them turn back President Bush’s threat to veto an emergency agricultural disaster package now pending in Congress, by signing online petitions supporting the package.
The senators, including Sen. Bryon Dorgan, D-N.D., Mark Dayton, D-Minn., and Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark, say House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., who has threatened to strip the package out of the Supplemental Appropriations bill, also needs to get the message that family farmers need emergency assistance.
The petition, posted on Sen. Bryon Dorgan's Web site, states "without some help, many farmers and ranchers will be unable to operate for another year, and will be forced to abandon farming."
The disaster aid provides nearly $4 billion in aid, including $1.5 billion in energy payments. For a summary of the disaster aid package, click HERE.
It has already drawn over 1,200 signatures since Dorgan posted the petition Friday. Sign the petition at: dorgan.senate.gov/contact/petitions/agdisaster2006/petition.cfm.