Disagreement erupts over farm spending

WASHINGTON -- President Bush's budget has sparked a debate between the administration and Senate Democrats over how much money to spend on farmers over the next five years.

The budget fulfills Bush's promise to support $73.5 billion in new spending over the next decade, but administration officials disagree with Democrats on how quickly the money should be spent.

A Democratic-backed farm bill pending in the Senate would use an estimated $44 billion by 2007, leaving about $30 billion for the remaining five years. Congress would either have to slash farm programs then or approve another increase in spending. A House-passed farm bill would cost $34.6 billion over the first five years.

"They say we need to save this (money) for eight to nine years from now. We need it now," Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, told a group of farmers Wednesday. "We may not need it eight to nine years from now."

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said the money should be distributed evenly over the 10-year period.

Senate work on the farm bill stalled in December, but lawmakers returned to work on the legislation Wednesday afternoon after rival economic stimulus bills were shelved in a stalemate. Debate on the farm bill was expected to last several days.

The administration's budget sets aside $4.2 billion for new farm spending this year and $7.3 billion in 2003, with the remainder of the $73.5 billion spread evenly in the following years.The spending levels are subject to negotiation.