Friday, Sept. 20,2002 2:31 p.m.
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is announcing a relief package worth about $750 million for states hit by the West's worst drought in a century, two officials said.
Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman planned to announce details of the package at an afternoon conference. Lawmakers, including Rep. John Thune, R-S.D., were to participate.
On Sept. 10, senators voted to add $6 billion to it to help farmers and ranchers battered by the drought, despite objections from Bush that the aid would increase federal red ink. Bush said that to prevent reborn federal deficits from getting worse, aid for farmers and ranchers with parched lands should come from the $180 billion, six-year farm bill enacted in May or from other budget savings.