Lincoln and Disaster

Farm Policy reports others share my doubts over the feasibility and legality of the adminstrative disaster payments proposed by Sen. Lincoln. 

Yesterday’s update added that, “Lincoln responded that it is not unusual for the executive branch to distribute such disaster aid without congressional action. ‘It’s been done before,’ she said. However, House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., told the press this week his staff is skeptical that USDA has a mechanism to fund the program.”

I think she's wrong and Peterson is right.  The only approach I can think of is to use the Commodity Credit Corporation approach, which is probably what Lincoln is thinking of, but it would be a big stretch to use it for Lincoln's proposal. But then, the lawyers in OGC (office of general counsel) have performed miracles before.