Allen: Late to the Party Again

By: agscribe
Published On: 9/29/2006 9:23:30 AM

Allen's Senate office made a big deal yesterday of his introduction of a bill that would provide (according its press release headline) an "historic remedy for black farmers who suffered discrimination by USDA."

More telling is the sentence near the bottom of the press release: "Senator AllenGÇÖs bill mirrors legislation introduced in the House by Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) and co-sponsored by Rep. Bobby Scott, (D-VA)."

Chabot introduced his bill (H.R. 5575) on June 9. Allen's bill was introduced on September 28.

Anyone like to guess why Allen waited more than three months?

Comments



has allen (chiefsjen - 9/29/2006 9:43:16 AM)
EVER introduced a bill that was HIS all by his little lonesome or one that ever got passed?

this is the 3rd time in a month that he's stolen bills or introduced bills that have already been introduced.

he's a disgrace!



Ummm, let me guess... (Arturo - 9/29/2006 10:00:28 AM)
He waited, stole another bill, because it's election time?


After more than 10 years of waiting... (Bubby - 9/29/2006 10:23:00 AM)
The National Black Farmers Association, and their President John Boyd have been calling on George Allen for help in this USDA settlement since he came to the Senate.  This week George Allen decided to pick up the phone.

Black farmers will have to decide, who is the real George Allen?  The George Allen that ignored them for 6 years, or the George Allen that now offers them assistance? The first was uncaring and dismissive, the latter is a desperate politician in a tight campaign race, looking for help.  Why should Black farmers heed Allen's call?  Who's fooling who?



Here's the comment the association head made (PM - 9/29/2006 10:57:28 AM)
http://www.timesdisp...

In an interview, Boyd said, "I'm glad he's finally stepped up and done something to help the nation's black farmers." Boyd also said, "Since he's been in [the Senate], we've been trying to get him to look at this issue."

Allen joined the Senate in 2001. Boyd, who voiced frustration over failed past efforts to get meetings with Allen's staff, said he finally got a meeting Friday. Boyd would not speculate on Allen's motivations for introducing the bill yesterday.

"Whatever the reason may be, we welcome the help because we're losing farmers every day."

A little politically expedient?



John Boyd is very charitable (Bubby - 9/29/2006 11:05:06 AM)
And a great Virginian struggling to keep small Black farmers in business.  His task is monumental.  I greatly admire his perseverance, and his grace.  I'm sure he is conflicted by this action by George Allen.  It is so typical of his character - shameless.


3 months - try 3 years! (Glant - 9/29/2006 12:14:10 PM)
Chabot may have introduced his bill on June 9, but the discrimination that is the basis of the bill is much older than that.  I am not an expert on the subject by any means, but I happened to talk with one of the lead attorneys representing the black farmers in 1998, who told me how USDA had systematically denied benfits to black farmers.

It has been at least 5 years since that case was dismissed on a "technicality" (I don't remember why).  Anyone want to bet that Allen waited to introduce this bill until Congress went into recess so that it had ZERO chance of consideration before the election?  And ZERO chance of action in a lame duck session where the senate will be working on budget bills that they should have passed before the recess but were too busy trampling on our civil rights!  In fact, the only chance this bill has is if the Democrats take control of the Senate, in which case Senator Felix won't be there anyway!