Bovine intervention: senators want to direct more aid to troubled dairy farmers
Associated Press
09/15/09 2:20 PM EDT
WASHINGTON — Flanked by a cow named Maggie — and six of his Senate colleagues — Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling for the House to pass an amendment increasing price supports to dairy farmers.
The Vermont independent made his pitch in a park adjacent to the Capitol, posing with his colleagues and the cow. He spoke in favor of an amendment to provide $350 million in support to dairy farmers.
Sanders and Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Bob Casey, D-Pa., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Tom Udall, D-N.M. stood with members of the National Farmers Union. The senators said dairy farmers are suffering through one of the worst periods in recent history.
Sanders says the agriculture industry will suffer if dairy farms continue to collapse.
