Oklahoma Senators Split on Emergency Farm Aid.

Oklahoma's senators split Wednesday on a<br>74-26 roll call by which the Senate approved an agricultural appropriations bill that includes $8.7 billion in emergency farm<br>assistance.<br><br>Republican

Wednesday, October 13th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Oklahoma's senators split Wednesday on a
74-26 roll call by which the Senate approved an agricultural appropriations bill that includes $8.7 billion in emergency farm
assistance.

Republican Rep. Jim Inhofe voted for the farm bill while Republican Sen. Don Nickles voted against the measure. Nickles said part of his vote was a protest vote.

Nickles said he supported the agriculture package passed by the Senate initially but said the conference committee report was
unreasonable.

"It spends too much money and spends it on corporate welfare for corporate farms, rather than focusing aid on family farms,"
Nickles said. "The committee also stripped a provision that would have opened five new markets for U.S. farm products. This is the
kind of policy that will really help farmers, not just writing checks. So I am voting no, but part of my vote is a protest vote."

The bill now goes to President Clinton.
U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said the bill would grant $135 million to Oklahoma agriculture producers.