She and her husband Richard own an aerial sprayer company, a business that is dependent on the weather in eastern North Dakota where they live. And it's been so dry this year, Altendorf says, struggling farmers in the area are cutting down on expenses by using ground sprayers.

"We didn't make enough income to even cover our initial outlay of expenses," she says, noting they still have to pay their pilots, insurance and workers compensation whether they work or not.

Altendorf is one of many small business owners in North Dakota and South Dakota who would benefit from a few extra government dollars to lessen the drought's effects. But legislation that would provide billions of dollars for relief is now stalled in a Congress preoccupied with national security issues and the upcoming November elections.

"The drought hurts farmers but it also hurts Main Street," says Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., one of many farm-state lawmakers pushing the disaster legislation. "The key is President George W. Bush. He alone has blocked this."

The White House and many Republicans in the House have objected to congressional proposals for agricultural disaster relief, which would benefit farmers affected by dry conditions along with those hurt by flooding and other disasters. They say the bills are too expensive.

Indeed, farm-state lawmakers are asking for a lot of money when money is scarce. A $4 billion proposal is pending in an agriculture spending bill; Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., introduced a new version this week that would provide $6.5 billion.

Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss, the Republican chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, says the House "is probably not going to go along with it."

House Republicans pulled the $4 billion package out of a spending bill designed to pay for the Iraq war earlier this year, and leaders have shown no public indication of changing their minds on the issue.

Reps. Stephanie Herseth, D-S.D., and Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., both say they are frustrated that there is not more attention on rural issues as the election nears.

North Dakota's Conrad said it would be easiest to push the package before the election, when political pressure is highest. He and other supporters have said they will try and attach the drought legislation to other bills.

Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., who is in a tight election race, is pushing his own disaster legislation that includes targeted money for fighting wildfires.

But Republican leadership, preoccupied with several defense and national security bills this month, has so far shown little interest in moving agricultural disaster assistance soon.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns last week promised to provide $79 million in relief funds, including $50 million for livestock producers, and accelerate $700 million in planned payments to cotton, grain sorghum and peanut farmers.

Johanns has said he wants to wait for the harvest of this year's crops before deciding whether to give out more money. That could push the decision to October or later, after Congress goes home at the end of September.

Conrad's new bill includes $300 million in grants for small businesses like the Altendorfs' that have been directly affected by weather. She predicts the payments would not be enough to pay all her bills, but they might be enough to make an interest payment and slightly ease the pain.

real guy wrote on September 11, 2006 4:55 PM:"to can't please anybody...Lots of Congressman maintain 2 homes..one in DC and one in their state. Come into DC on Mon or Tues-fly back to their district on Thurs-Friday. I used to work in a Republican Congressional office in DC. Congressman are given a travel allowance for 40 round trips back home/year. If we had a Republican, at least we would have a seat at the table with the administration. Conrad, Dorgan, and Pomeroy have no credibility with the administration, thus, North Dakota is left out on the cold. "

NDr wrote on September 11, 2006 4:31 PM:"There's only one person holding this up. So, the only way we could increase our clout enough for that is if Mr. Dorgan would run for Prez."

retired horseless cowboy wrote on September 11, 2006 1:29 PM:"to north dakotan, qualified or only company given chance to show their qualifications in the oil industry, there was no competition from the start, get real! and as for clout, get ur head on straight there is no consensus in washington, clout is not the issue, but how the country is being car-jacked by these bozo's we call congress. "

non-beef eater wrote on September 11, 2006 1:22 PM:"this sounds like more welfare, stop this non-sense, get a job and life and pay for those big expensive trucks like the rest of us do. enough of our tax dollars to these people so the big livin can continue."

Can't please anybody. wrote on September 11, 2006 12:40 PM:"Live here on a regular basis? How would they do their work in Washington DC? Then people would complain their fllights back and forth between North Dakota and Washington DC are costing us to much and polluting the atmosphere with more carbon dioxide thus causing more global warming. "

to North Dakotan wrote on September 11, 2006 12:14 PM:"Yes it is possible for the Dems to take over the House and Senate. The problem is our current politicians don't have the clout they claim. Second, they have been detached from ND for too long. I don't like that our politicians live in DC. I know this will not change with anyone new, but it would be nice if our politicians lived here on a regular basis. As far as Halibuton goes most contracts they receive they are the only company that is qualified for the work they do. It sure would be nice to see another company that could compete with them better."

North Dakotan wrote on September 11, 2006 10:59 AM:"To real guy, electing a freshman Republican makes no sense. He will have no experience and clout and then what happens when the Democrats take over the Senate or House of Representatives or both in November? That is a real possibility!"

real guy wrote on September 11, 2006 10:20 AM:"with all of the "clout" our delegation claims to have, I'm very surprised they can't get this passed. I don't understand....maybe if ND voters had the courage to elect a Republican, we would at least have a seat at the table."

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