IN AN OPINION piece last week, Sen. John E. Sununu claimed that his opposition to the federal farm bill was a strike against Washington's wasteful spending. Sununu said that he objected to subsidies going to "such a profitable industry." But Sununu did not voice similar outrage in December when he was the deciding vote to protect $13 billion in subsidies to oil and gas companies. Oil and gas companies are raking in record profits while the people of New Hampshire are struggling with record prices at the pump.

Last December, Sununu voted against repealing the "Exxon-Mobil Relief Law," which gave $13 billion in tax breaks for oil and gas companies. The farm bill, however, included real help for New Hampshire.

Here's how the farm bill would help New Hampshire:

-- Invest in wood-based ethanol. The bill reduces corn ethanol subsidies and invests $1 billion for research and development of cellulosic or wood-based ethanol that will create jobs right here in New Hampshire. In addition, reducing reliance on ethanol will stop diversion of our food supply to gas pumps, which will reduce the cost of food.

-- Protect independent livestock producers. Cattle, swine and poultry producers will receive new protections from big agribusiness meatpackers, included mandatory "out of country" labeling so only livestock born, raised and slaughtered in the United States is labeled as produced in the U.S.

-- Expand nutrition programs. The bill would modernize the food stamp program to restore lost purchasing power for New Hampshire families and create a new school fruit and vegetable program so school kids will have healthy snacks, assisting in the fight against childhood obesity.

-- Provide economic development for the North Country. The Northern Border Commission Act would bring much-needed targeted economic development aid to New Hampshire's North Country.

-- Close the "Enron loophole." The bill would close the so-called Enron loophole that allows rampant, unregulated oil and gas speculation by billion-dollar hedge funds. These oil and gas speculators are manipulating the markets, driving up prices, lining their own pockets and adding to the obscene profits of Exxon-Mobil.

A few weeks ago, John E. Sununu made an election-year stop at Manchester's food bank and heard how the faltering economy is increasing demand at the very time food prices are making it more difficult to stock the shelves. Three days later he voted against the farm bill, which would have doubled food bank funding to help keep pace with increased demand.

Sununu claims to be a fiscal conservative because he voted against the farm bill, yet he has voted six times to lift the debt ceiling, voted for budgets that have exploded the deficit, and supports spending $343 million a day in Iraq.

The two biggest drivers of the exploding national debt are the Bush tax cuts for multimillionaires and the war in Iraq -- both of which Sununu supports. Voting against one bill that would have helped New Hampshire's families, but continuing to support George W. Bush's economic irresponsibility, is not fiscal conservatism.

The reckless fiscal policies that John E. Sununu has supported have put our country on the brink of recession and mortgaged our children's future to China.

Sununu is right about one thing: New Hampshire families are hurting. They are hurting because of misplaced priorities and out-of-control spending supported by John E. Sununu.

Kathy Sullivan is a former state Democratic Party chairman