31.   Lawmakers were scheduled to take up matters including the peanut, dairy and sugar programs, and expressed hope of reaching a conclusion around midnight tonight.

32.   Large sweetener-using companies are trying to build support for ending the federal sugar program by saying that there will cost savings to consumers.

33.   Likewise, cane and beet growers say that the sugar program has also been substantially changed under the legislation supported by Republican leaders.

34.   Like a stalk of cane in a mill press, the federal sugar program is being squeezed hard from all sides.

35.   Martin, the Dole spokeswoman, said Dole cast the vote to save the sugar program because other commodity programs were being allowed to continue.

36.   Lugar has been a long-time critic of the U.S. sugar program.

37.   Miller and Schumer originally had introduced legislation to terminate the sugar program this year.

38.   Miller was among a bipartisan group of lawmakers who introduced legislation in the House and Senate on Tuesday to abolish the sugar program.

39.   Miller conceded that the Agriculture Committee, in writing the farm bill, is unlikely to heed his call to abolish the sugar program.

40.   Miller, however, did surprise Florida lawmakers in March when he called for elimination of the sugar program.