The Nation : Reagan Objects to Drought Aid Package

President Reagan, without citing specifics, told farm-state legislators that portions of an agricultural drought-assistance package moving through Congress do not meet his standards for helping farmers. “I am concerned that, due to the undeniable pressure to produce a bill as quickly as possible, some provisions were incorporated . . . without adequate review,� Reagan said in a letter to the chairmen of the House and Senate Agriculture committees. The President reiterated five objectives for drought relief, including his opposition to “windfalls� for some farmers and his concern that Congress might attach “extraneous matters, such as rewriting the existing farm bill.� White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said that during a meeting with the President, Agriculture Secretary Richard E. Lyng reported that the Administration was “fighting Christmas-tree amendments� to the legislation and that he remained optimistic about a bipartisan aid agreement.