Washington Journal

By JOHN BALZ and BILL ADAIR

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 29, 2001

Horses need equal rights, too

When Rep. Karen Thurman, D-Dunnellon, and Rep. Ernie Fletcher, R-Ky., started a Horse Caucus last month, the idea seemed a bit odd -- especially after the group declared its mission was to "educate members of Congress and their staff about importance of the horse industry."

But the caucus made it clear last week that it's not horsing around. The caucus made its move Thursday during a markup of the Agriculture Committee's farm bill. Fletcher introduced an amendment that would make horses eligible for agricultural loans availble to cattle, sheep, and pigs.

"Horses need to be treated the same as all other livestock," he said.

The committee agreed. The amendment passed on a voice vote -- a chorus of "yeas" and not a single "neigh."

Lieberman talks of chubby Al and errands

Sen. Joseph Lieberman will do anything to find a crowd.

In an interview last week on the Daily Show, host Jon Stewart teased the Connecticut Democrat about appearing on the irreverent television program.

"This is what defeated vice presidential candidates do," Lieberman said. "We do anniversaries, birthdays, bar mitzvahs -- circumcisions, if necessary. We're available."

Asked about rumors that his former running mate Al Gore had gotten fat, Lieberman said he saw Gore about a month ago "and the weight was down."

Lieberman said he and other Democrats have been busy doing chores for Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords, whose GOP defection gave the Democrats control of the Senate.

"Tom Daschle mows his lawn," Lieberman said. "I take his shirts to the cleaner."

Putnam proposal rejected on voice vote

During the farm bill markup, the Agriculture Committee rejected a proposal to increase funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service by $20-million a year.

Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, who offered the amendment, said the agency is lacking in resources to help reduce the risk of overseas pests diseases from gaining a foothold in the United States. He proposed moving the money out of funding for broadband development in rural areas, which curiously enough falls under the auspices of "agriculture."

Putnam had wanted to boost the budget by $500-million over 10 years but scaled back his request to $200-million over 10 years. The measure was defeated by a voice vote.

- Compiled by staff writers John Balz and Bill Adair.

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