Baucus says new version of Farm Bill won't fly in Senate

(Eds: Moving on general news and financial services.) Washington (AP) Democratic Senator Max Baucus of Montana is criticizing a new version of a wide-ranging farm bill. He says it cuts important programs.

House lawmakers are proposing a revised version of the bill.

It's an attempt to appease the White House, which contended the bill is full of wasteful spending.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, and Virginia Representative Robert Goodlatte, are proposing stricter limits on subsidies paid to wealthy farmers, and slashing extra spending for farm programs.

One of the programs not be funded in the draft is a 5 billion dollar fund created by Baucus to subsidize farmers who have lost crops due to weather-related disasters.

Baucus chairs the Senate Finance Committee, which has juridiction over the bill; and he says the revised House version won't fly in the Senate.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 02-14-08 1001CST | save this article / add to your favorites list