News Release

Governors Martz, Johanns, Rounds and Hoeven Urge President Bush to SupportDrought Relief

2/10/2003
Chuck Butler
406-444-5523
cbutler@state.mt.us

Gov. Judy Martz and three other western state governors wrote to President Bush today urging his support for $3.1 billion in drought relief. Other governors who signed the letter were Mike Johanns of Nebraska, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, and John Hoeven of North Dakota.

"A drought disaster of historic proportions has had an adverse impact on our farmers and ranchers, creating a dire situation that has bled over into agriculture-related industries and our already-struggling economies as a whole," wrote the governors. "The critical timeliness of this issue and the current status of the omnibus package leads us to respectfully request that you support the Senate plan to fund $3.1 billion in disaster aid through the across-the-board cuts in discretionary programs."

Gov. Martz said about the letter, "We urge the President's support of the drought relief package adopted by the Senate and the across-the-board cuts in federal spending that would pay for the drought assistance. We agree with the President that the aid should be targeted to those most in need including as ag producers in Nebraska, Montana, and the Dakotas but this is probably the last opportunity to fund drought relief for 2002. "

Gov. Judy Martz is chairman of the Western Governors Association. Gov. Mike Johanns is the vice chairman of the Western Governors Association and the immediate-past chairman of the Midwest Governors Conference.

The letter was copied to Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Congressman Tom Delay (R-Texas), and Mitch Daniels, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. All three are key players in ongoing negotiations to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the federal fiscal year 2003 budget.

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(full letter attached)

February 10, 2003

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

A drought disaster of historic proportions has had an adverse impact on our farmers and ranchers, creating a dire situation that has bled over into agriculture-related industries and our already-struggling economies as a whole.

This problem does not appear to be waning. A review of the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor shows stages of severe, extreme, and even exceptional drought in all or parts of our respective states. For some of us, it was the third consecutive year of these types of conditions. As members of the Western Governors' Association, we have been working with your administration to develop a national drought policy.

While we recognize your administration's desire to be fiscally responsible, we do not believe our states alone can shoulder the negative economic burden precipitated by the drought. Congress failed last fall to craft and pass a drought relief package acceptable to both sides of the partisan aisle. The critical timeliness of this issue and the current status of the omnibus package leads us to respectfully request that you support the Senate plan to fund $3.1 billion in disaster aid through the cross-the-board cuts in discretionary programs. We agree with your administration that the aid should be directed to those who have been directly impacted by disaster.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Judy Martz
Governor of Montana

Mike Johanns
Governor of Nebraska

John Hoeven
Governor of North Dakota

M. Michael Rounds
Governor of South Dakota