Minnesota Sen. Mark Dayton introduced legislation Tuesday that would provide $5.95 billion in aid over the next two years to farmers impacted by natural disasters.
The bill would include more than $500 million in aid to farmers in 19 Minnesota counties who were hit by last year's flooding.
"This bill is a compilation of agriculture measures that I introduced last year," the Democratic senator said during a Tuesday telephone conference call from Washington, D.C.
The legislation, which also includes provisions halting the flow of certain diary products into the U.S. and promotes renewable fuels like soy diesel, is still in its infancy.
Dayton's next step is to seek bill co-sponsors. He said he approached fellow Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman about co-signing the bill, but his Republican counterpart declined.
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Coleman Tuesday said he supports disaster assistance for farmers, he's just not sure Dayton's bill is the best avenue to provide that relief.
"My goal is to get disaster relief," Coleman said during a telephone interview from Washington, D.C.
He said he plans to work with Dayton and the Republican majority in the Senate to come up with the best plan possible for Minnesota.
Even if passed by the Senate, the Dayton bill must also be approved by the House.
"If the House introduced something different, a committee would be formed and common ground worked out," said Dayton spokeswoman Debra Deshong. "Once approved by both parties it could either be signed or vetoed by President Bush."
Deshong stressed, however, the bill has a long way to go before it comes before Bush.
"It's very early," she said. "But the longer (it's out their) the more opportunity for gathering support."
Both Dayton and Coleman were hopeful an aid package could be worked out.
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"I am optimistic," Dayton said. "These matters are far more provincial than partisan."
In addition to disaster relief aid, the Dayton legislation would reduce the diesel fuel excise tax for manufactures who produce fuel made with soybean additives; provide a 3-cents-per-gallon credit to diesel fuel suppliers using fuel containing 2 percent soy diesel and a 20-cents-per-gallon credit for fuels containing 20 percent soy diesel.
The bill would also stop the importation of diary products that have been slightly altered to get around U.S. tariff quotas, Dayton said.
The Senate passed a $6 billion disaster aid measure in September, and Democratic farm-state senators tried to pass essentially the same plan in November. The House rejected the September effort and adjourned for the year without voting on aid in November.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Baird at (701) 241-5535
