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  • farm bill

    Farm Bill Misses Crucial Food Stamp Reform

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture appears to be on a mission to recruit food stamp participants. Radio advertisements, Spanish telenovelas (soap operas), and reaching across the border to partner with Mexico are some of the highlights of their advertising campaign. This, along with massive growth in program spending, indicates critical … More

    Conservative Opposition Puts Future of Farm Bill in Doubt

    The farm bill won approval from the House Agriculture Committee last week on a 35-11 vote. But it faces an uncertain future with mounting conservative opposition, led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), chairman of the Republican Study Committee. Shortly after last week’s committee vote, Jordan wasted little time to announce … More

    USDA Gives Millions to Farmers Who Aren’t Actually Farming

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has doled out millions of dollars in subsidies to farms on which farming isn’t actually taking place, according a new report from government watchdogs. Billions more have gone towards supporting farms that don’t grow the crops for which they’re being subsidized. USDA gave nearly $3 … More

    Uncle Sam Simultaneously Attacks and Subsidizes Soda Consumption

    The federal government has financed a multi-million dollar ad campaign in New York City and elsewhere attacking sugary soft drinks. But legislation passed last week continues subsidizing sugar producers, and allows food stamp recipients to buy soda and other supposedly unhealthy foods with taxpayer money. Uncle Sam is fighting soda … More

    Biomassive Energy Subsidies in Farm Bill

    The farm bill, which passed in the Senate yesterday, has little to do with farming and a lot to do with handouts. Energy subsidies? The farm bill’s full of ‘em, particularly in the Title IX energy section, and they all need to go. The legislation includes direct handouts and loan … More

    A Farm Bill That’s Not About Farming

    Were we directed from Washingtonwhen to sow, when to reap, we should soon want bread. – Thomas Jefferson The federal government hasn’t stuck its nose into when to plant crops (yet, anyway), butJefferson’s warning is worth remembering as another farm bill chugs through Congress this year. Federal lawmakers are planning, yet again, to … More

    Farm Bill: Bumper Crop of Food Stamps

    The farm bill pending in the Senate has a bumper crop of food stamps. The bill, S.3240 (the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act), should be renamed the “Food Stamp Expansion Act.” The bulk of the spending in the bill is targeted to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also … More

    Farm Bill Fumble Opens Door to Increased Opposition

    Opponents of the farm bill are digging in for a fight. A coalition of nearly 30 taxpayer watchdog groups yesterday wrote lawmakers pleading to reopen debate on a section of the bill dealing with trade. And two Republican senators have vowed to prolong debate despite the long odds they face. … More

    The Farm Bill Is Not a Farm Law

    As every school child knows, to become law, Art. I, § 7 of the U.S. Constitution requires a bill to go through the formal process of bicameral passage in Congress and presentment to the President. Should the President veto the legislation, then it may become law if it is “repassed … More

    Farm Bill Veto Will Sniff Out Real Conservatives

    Most of the reports on President Bush’s veto of the “subsidies for millionaires” farm bill mention that since the bill passed both the House and Senate by such large margins, the veto will likely be overridden soon. Hopefully Congress will take a look at world wide record high food prices … More