Demo Cites Dairy Farmers’ Plight In Rip At Nethercutt

Congressional candidate Susan Kaun attacked Rep. George Nethercutt Monday for his “callous failure” to help troubled dairy farmers.

Kaun called it Nethercutt’s duty to help 120 Northwest dairy farmers recover $2.7 million in milk payments they lost when Foremost Dairies Northwest Inc. collapsed in 1990.

Kaun said many of the small farmers were financially ruined by the controversial bankruptcy in which they didn’t get paid for a month and a half of milk production.

“Even though it started in 1990, this is not over,” Kaun said. “These people are still suffering.” About 25 of the farmers live in the 5th District.

Since the Foremost bankruptcy, several lawmakers have proposed ways to give dairy farmers the same financial protections other farmers enjoy.

But Kaun, a former Spokane County Freeholder, said Nethercutt is unwilling to champion the legislation.

“Somehow it’s not important to him,” said Kaun, who is running against Garfield farmer Judy Olson for the Democratic nomination.

Actually, Nethercutt shares the concerns of dairy farmers in his district, said Ken Lisaius, the congressman’s spokesman.

Lisaius said Nethercutt supports the “Dairy and Livestock Security Act,” a bill that would make dairy farmers less vulnerable to bankruptcies by the milk processors they serve.

However, Lisaius conceded, legislative progress has been very slow.

To underscore her Nethercutt criticism, Kaun told a Magnuson Club luncheon Monday the tale of Michael Yeager.

A Deer Park dairy farmer, Yeager has crusaded the past six years to right the wrong he believes was foisted on farmers by unethical politicians and bankers.

Yeager said when he first approached Nethercutt’s office, the lawmaker’s aides were excited and supportive. But Nethercutt’s camp lost interest, he said.

Lisaius said the congressman and his staff have met with Yeager and will continue to work with him.

Yeager claims he cornered Nethercutt at a recent function in Chewelah and told him one way or another the farmers were going to get their money back.

“He just told me, ‘Good luck,”’ Yeager said, “then turned and walked away.”

“Good luck?” said Kaun. “We are talking about the hopes and dreams of 120 farmers and their families. … They have every right to expect genuine assistance from their own congressman.”

, DataTimes