It divided colleagues in the House, prompted a filibuster in the Senate and generated veto threats from the White House. It so angered one of the most powerful members of the House that he tied up the chamber for hours with procedural votes.
Proponents shake their heads in disbelief.
To them the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact is simply a lifeline thrown to New England's struggling dairy farmers. But ask Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn., about the dairy compact and she will tell you she has devoted more time to that piece of legislation in the past year than she has to any other matter. We had as many meetings on this as on any other issue. U.S. Rep. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., agrees the dairy processors have provided the main opposition, but says there are others. You have the major dairy processors, who process milk, ice cream.