Proposed Meese Filibuster Tied to Farm Crisis

Sen. David L. Boren (D-Okla.) plans to filibuster the long-delayed nomination of Edwin Meese III as attorney general unless Congress promises to take quick action on the farm credit crisis, his office reported Monday.

The Meese nomination, already delayed by a year, ran into the new roadblock just as Senate Republican leader Robert J. Dole of Kansas planned to call it up for action.

Dole announced last week his intention to begin Senate debate today on President Reagan’s controversial choice to head the Justice Department.

Strategy Session Today

But Boren spokeswoman Barbara Webb said the Oklahoman and others from farm states would meet today to “talk strategy” on the filibuster. It was not clear how many of them would join in the action--nor whether they could enlist the help of senators opposed to the Meese nomination.

“He (Boren) doesn’t object to the Meese nomination,” Webb said. “He will vote for Meese. He doesn’t think anything else should be taken up until something (is done) about farm credit legislation.”

Boren and Sen. J. James Exon (D-Neb.) wrote a letter to Reagan earlier in the year threatening to block any legislation until Congress comes to the aid of farmers.

Since then, however, the Senate has approved four members of the Cabinet--Secretary of the Treasury James A. Baker III, Secretary of the Interior Donald P. Hodel, Energy Secretary John S. Herrington and Education Secretary William J. Bennett--without opposition from farm state senators.

Webb said Boren wants assurances from Dole that he will provide some piece of non-controversial legislation to which a farm credit proposal can be attached as a rider or that the farm credit bill will be taken up soon by itself.