What will it take to pierce the thick-as-cornhusk shield of the farm lobby?
Farmers are enjoying record high prices for crops. Farm income has risen 56 percent over the last two years. Yet the $290 billion farm bill passed by the Senate on Thursday and the House on Wednesday includes more subsidies for rich farmers. And it was passed by overwhelming votes: 318-106 in the House and 81-15 in the Senate.
Crop prices have been rising much faster than gasoline prices. High gas prices and record oil earnings prompted Capitol Hill hearings on price gouging and bills to limit oil industry tax breaks. But high prices and record income for farms? Let's hand out more subsidies!
President Bush tried to force Congress to eliminate subsidies to farmers who make more than $200,000 a year, so at least the benefits wouldn't go to the wealthy. He tried to change how the U.S. provides international food aid. Buy food in the poor countries where it will be consumed, he argued, so huge dollars don't have to be spent on shipping it overseas from the United States. But Congress would have none of that.
This is what the farm lobby and its enablers on Capitol Hill consider "reform": Their bill cuts out direct subsidies to farmers with annual incomes of more than $750,000. But spouses qualify, so married farmers can earn up to $1.5 million before being weaned from government aid. That's just ridiculous.
Why are we even having a debate over farm subsidies in the midst of sky-high crop prices and a global food crisis? Why don't members of Congress revolt over this wasteful spending?
Here's the gambit that the farm lobby employs to perpetuate the larceny, a tactic it has perfected over decades. Congress writes a farm bill every five years that includes all agricultural programs. Sixty-seven percent -- that's more than two of every three dollars in the bill -- goes to food stamps and other emergency food help for the poor. The outrageous subsidies come out of the other dollar.
Few lawmakers want to vote against helping the needy, so they wince at the higher subsidies for corn, wheat, sugar etc., but vote for the bill. Throw in assorted goodies like tax breaks for salmon fishermen in Washington, Oregon and California and thoroughbred racing in Kentucky; help for Nevada lakes and North Dakota wetlands and a little something for the geographically disadvantaged farmers in Alaska and Hawaii. Pretty soon they've bought off enough votes to ensure victory.
It's a disgrace. President Bush vows to veto this bill, but the House and Senate have enough votes to override a veto. The president should take a stand anyway and hope that some members of Congress wake up. This porker shouldn't become law.
Chicago Tribune
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