Bill Provisions Forgive Loans, Grant Aid for Tobacco Farmers
By Monica Chen and Michael McKnight Concerns regarding a surprise amendment to a spending bill by an influential Kentucky senator were abetted when another provision was added to help ailing North Carolina tobacco farmers. Under pressure from N.C. senators, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., agreed to a provision to the Agriculture Appropriations Bill that will forgive a $125 million federal loan to the Flue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative Stabilization Corporation. Most N.C. tobacco farmers grow flue-cured tobacco.