[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S9019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CRAIG:
  S. 1157. A bill disapproving the cancellations transmitted by the 
President on August 11, 1997, regarding Public Law 105-34; to the 
Committee on Finance, pursuant to the order of for 7 days of session 
pursuant to section 1023 of Public Law 93-344.


                        DISAPPROVAL LEGISLATION

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I am introducing today a bill to disapprove 
the President's line-item veto of a provision providing tax relief when 
an agricultural production facility is sold to a farmer cooperative--a 
veto that has produced a cry of outrage from Idaho's farm families.
  I am disappointed that the President vetoed this provision of the Tax 
Relief Act of 1997. This provision had strong bipartisan support in 
both the Senate and the House. This type of tax relief deserves to be 
debated on the merits and enacted into law.
  Because of the large number of ultimate beneficiaries involved in 
this kind of tax provision, it is my opinion that this item was 
erroneously identified as a candidate for a line-item veto.
  In Idaho, for example, in a single co-op, there are 1,130 family farm 
members who have been interested in this kind of tax law change for a 
long time.
  Changes in agricultural policy over recent years are intended to make 
American agriculture more market based. Prior changes in tax laws 
raised hurdles for agriculture at a time when world markets were 
becoming more competitive. Current tax law allows some advantages to 
corporations and other entities that are denied to farmer cooperatives.
  To allow family farmers in Idaho and across America to remain 
productive and effective in this changing environment, our tax laws 
need further revision. The provision the President vetoed would have 
helped, by allowing farmer cooperatives, by expanding their operations 
and compete more fully and fairly.
  I do not believe the President vetoed this provision without 
reservations. The White House has said publicly that the issue of 
ensuring the competitive ability of farmer cooperatives should be 
addressed. The administration had technical objections which, I 
believe, we should be able to work out.
  It is my hope, and it is fully my intention in introducing this bill 
today, that Members of Congress, from both sides of the aisle, and the 
administration can now sit down and work out the details of similar 
legislation and produce a win-win solution--one that helps farm 
families and addresses technical concerns expressed by the 
administration.
  I also want to address some important procedural matters.
  I am optimistic that, ultimately, legislation providing relief to 
farmer cooperatives and making any necessary and reasonable technical 
changes, will move on a track totally separate from this bill. That is 
my hope and intent.
  But we are constrained by procedure and timing in the introduction of 
this bill. Introduction of this bill, in this form, no later than 
today, is the only way to keep all procedural options open to the 
Congress.
  The Line Item Veto Act prescribes the precise form and content of 
this type of bill. Therefore, this bill refers to one other vetoed item 
besides the farmer cooperative item I have addressed. It is my 
understanding that persons supporting that item already are working out 
its consideration on a separate track.
  I hope and expect that the same will be true of the farmer 
cooperative item many in this body have supported. I stand ready to 
work with my colleagues and the administration on any reasonable, 
technical changes needed to enact such needed tax relief into law.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1157

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     Congress disapproves of cancellations 97-1 and 97-2 as 
     transmitted by the President in a special message on August 
     11, 1997, regarding Public Law 105-34.

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