The Democratic leadership in the House and Senate is responsible for the delay in getting a new farm bill to the president, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said Wednesday.

Thune said the leadership has not yet named members of the conference committee that will have to negotiate differences between the House and Senate versions of the new farm bill. The House bill passed last summer, and the Senate bill passed in December.

Meanwhile, the 2002 farm bill has been extended until March 15.

"It's time to quit finger pointing and work as a team and get this farm bill done, once and for all," Thune said in a teleconference with reporters.

He said part of the delay might be caused by House and Senate leaders alike who are trying to negotiate directly with the White House on the farm bill. President Bush has threatened to veto both bills because they cost too much and don't limit farm payments as much as he wants.

But Thune said blaming the White House at this time is beside the point. "The fight with the White House doesn't commence until Congress completes its work," he said.

He said he would be weighing in with the White House after the final bill is reconciled.

Among the sticking points with the Bush administration is the permanent ag disaster fund contained in the Senate farm bill. Newly confirmed Agriculture Secretary Edward Schafer has previously supported a permanent disaster fund, but now, representing the administration, he opposes it, Thune acknowledged.

"We had high hopes for Gov. Schafer when he got over there that he might differ from standard administration policy," Thune said. "I hope that doesn't become a deal-breaker," he said about the disaster fund.

Thune said a permanent fund would be more efficient than the series of ad hoc disaster programs enacted over the past 10 years.

On the economic-stimulus package pending in Congress, Thune said he was concerned about the Senate making too many changes in the House-passed bill, because they could delay getting tax rebates out.

He and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., favor spending $5 billion of the $150 billion stimulus package on infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

If Congress can act quickly, rebate checks could be out within about 60 days, Thune said.

"What we do is critical, but timeliness is also critical," Thune said. "If we are set on the notion that rebate checks have the biggest impact, then we ought to get them out there as quickly as possible."

Thune said he favors the stimulus package, but he has concerns about borrowing money to pay for it.

"I've always said what we're doing here is addressing a symptom, we're not addressing the cause," Thune said. He said he favors tax credits for people to buy houses and measures such as those included in the energy bill and the proposed farm bill that would lessen U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

"Hundred-dollar oil and three-dollar gasoline are why the economy is slowing down," he said. "These are the fundamentals creating the problem."

Contact Steve Miller at 394-8417 or steve.miller@rapidcityjournal.com