21.   David G. Koncelik, president and chief executive officer of California and Hawaiian Sugar Co. Inc., also criticized the sugar program.

22.   Farm industry allies argued it was unfair to try to rewrite the sugar program in a spending bill.

23.   For example, one panel member is Rep. Dan Miller, R-Fla., who is leading a crusade to abolish the federal sugar program.

24.   Four years ago, as part of the major farm bill reauthorization, the House came within nine votes of eliminating the sugar program.

25.   He proposed eliminating federal salaries for Agriculture Department workers who administer the sugar program, effectively scuttling it.

26.   Hershey is one of many companies lobbying for an end to the sugar program under a group known as the Coalition to End Welfare for Big Sugar.

27.   However, earlier this month, the Senate overwhelmingly rejected an amendment that would have limited the sugar program to an additional two years.

28.   However, Rep. Dan Miller, whose district is west of the sugar farms, is leading to effort to eliminate the sugar program.

29.   If the House abolishes the sugar program, it will be hard to restore it in a conference committee, he predicted.

30.   Last year, a similar attempt by Miller to kill the entire sugar program failed by nine votes in the House.