By AP/Dan Modlin
Washington, D.C./Bowling Green,KY – A ten billion dollar tobacco buyout plan is expected to
go before the full U-S House of Representatives before
Friday's adjournment. The provision was approved
Monday night by the powerful House Ways and Means
Committee.
Congressman Ron Lewis of Kentucky's Second Congressional
District is a member of the Ways and Means Committee. He
says the 27 to 9 Committee vote to retain the buy-out
brings a deal for tobacco farmers closer to reality than ever
before. The package provides 9.6 billion dollars in compensation
to tobacco quota holders and tobacco growers. The compensation
would be spread over a five year period.
The buyout plan would put an end to a program that dates back
to the 1930s and would introduce free-market reforms to
tobacco farming.