tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477340016457488840.post2144740968408766440..comments2023-03-24T10:16:25.888-04:00Comments on ALS Spread the Word: The Grapes of Wrath part IIALS Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03197310566321587027noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477340016457488840.post-15011251488097746122008-07-17T16:25:00.000-04:002008-07-17T16:25:00.000-04:00Drought aid stopped for Oklahoma farmers and ranch...Drought aid stopped for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers.<BR/>By Jerry Bohnen / KTOK Radio / OK.<BR/>Thursday, July 17, 2008<BR/><BR/><BR/>Oklahoma U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn along with U.S. Representative Frank Lucas have unleased stinging criticism of environmental groups who went to federal court to stop drought release for drought-stricken farmers in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas.<BR/> A Federal judge in Washington State blocked the USDA's move to allow farmers and ranchers to cut hay and graze the land including 210,000 acres in Oklahoma as well as 583,000 in Texas, 253,000 acres in Colorado and 177,000 in New Mexico.<BR/> "It's simply outrageous that several national liberal special interest groups have blocked critical federal assistance," said Senator Inhofe in a statement from his office.<BR/> Senator Coburn agreed and said, "It is an outrage that the livelihood of Oklahoma ranchers and farmers is being put in jeopardy because of liberal special interest groups."<BR/> Representative Frank Lucas, a western Oklahoma farmer and rancher said the use of the CRP land was greatly needed.<BR/> District court judge John C. Coughenour in Seattle issued the recent temporary restraining order at the request of the National Wildlife Federation and six of its affiliates. It affected 24 million acres of CRP land opened by the USDA. The Federation claimed the release of the land would 'deliver a devastating blow to the nation's soil, water and wildlife habitat'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477340016457488840.post-69134666626115015882008-07-17T10:46:00.000-04:002008-07-17T10:46:00.000-04:00It seems ironic that a self-proclaimed earmark wat...It seems ironic that a self-proclaimed earmark watchdog is forcing a bunch of focused, individual bills to be packaged into something much bigger in order to get things voted upon. Weird.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com