Sununu and Gregg voted the right way

To the editor: Foster's May 16th article, "Senator Sununu on Losing Side of Senate Farm Bill Vote,"indicated that former Governor Jeanne Shaheen criticized Senator Sununu for his vote against the farm bill because his stance would " block nutrition programs ... for needy children and emergency funding for New Hampshire food banks." It seems that she would have endorsed the bill if she were our senator.

That same day the editorial in The New York Times, hardly a bastion of conservative thought, was entitled "A Disgraceful Farm Bill."

The Times assessment of the farm bill was in stark contrast to that of Jeanne Shaheen. The editorial stated: "Congress has approved a $307 billion farm bill that rewards rich farmers who do not need help while doing nothing to help the world's hungry, who need all the help they can get. "The bill includes the usual favors like the tax break for racehorse breeders ... . But the greater and more embarrassing defect is that the bill perpetuates the old subsidies for agriculture at a time when the prices that farmers are getting for big row crops like corn, soybeans and wheat have never been better. Net farm income is up 50 percent."

Though the Times notes that there are some positive aspects to the farm bill, they state that they hope President Bush will "veto it and demand better legislation. Bad legislation is bad legislation." Congratulations to New Hampshire Senators Sununu and Gregg for having had the insight to realize the failings of the farm bill and the courage to cast difficult but praiseworthy votes.

Linda Condon
Barrington

YOU read this week by host Arnie Arnesen