Ky. Republican tells farmers programs may be cut

Ky. Republican tells farmers programs may be cut

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul has told an audience of Kentucky farmers their federal payments may need cutting in the interest of national debt reduction.

In response, Democrat rival Jack Conway says that’s a position that poses a threat to tens of thousands of the state’s residents.

The two men appeared jointly at a two-hour meeting of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation board of directors.

They are rivals in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.

Paul is a libertarian-leaning Republican with tea party support. He said he does not favor eliminating the Department of Agriculture or all farm payments, despite charges from Conway to that effect.