Massive Pork for ag
Following a veto proof vote in the House, the Senate today passed the so-called Farm, Nutrition and Bio-Energy Act with plenty of votes to override a veto. $307 Billion (equivalent to funds needed for two years to fight terrorists)!!
So all you food stamp moochers get in line, more moolah being redistributed (taken) from the ‘evil rich’ to feed your illegitimate families.
Without seeing the roll call vote, my bet is Georgia’s own Saxby Chambliss (up for re-election this year) was a key supporter of the bloated legislation. Too bad a real conservative did not challenge the big spending senator who never opposes more money for agriculture.
Farm bill sails through senate
POLITICO — A $307 billion Farm Bill cleared Congress Thursday by a lopsided 5-to-1 margin in the Senate, more than enough to overcome a threatened veto by President Bush.
Thirty-five Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) broke with Bush on the 81-15 roll call vote, which followed Wednesday’s House vote approving the same five-year bill 318-106.
The wide margins contrast with the months of often tortured negotiations over a massive bill which promises record funding for nutrition programs but has faced a steady drumbeat of criticism for its failure to impose tougher reforms on the current subsidy system.
Does anyone still wonder why the GOP is dying?
From Saxby Chambliss, co-author of this massive redistribution bill:
CHAMBLISS PRAISES STRONG SENATE VOTE IN SUPPORT OF FARM BILL
Farm Bill to Become Law, Approved by House, Senate
May 15, 2008
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today overwhelmingly approved the bipartisan farm bill conference report, coauthored by U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. The farm bill, titled the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, includes the most significant reforms to payment limitations in the history of American farm policy, as well as increased funding for nutrition, energy, specialty crops and conservation programs.
“We are now one step closer to making the new farm bill a reality,” said Sen. Chambliss. “Our bill provides certainty to America’s farmers and ranchers and restates the strong commitment of Congress to the hungry and less fortunate. The farm bill includes provisions to help low-income Americans meet nutritional needs by providing school children with increased access to fresh fruit and vegetables and enhancing our investments to the Food Stamp Program and food banks. We have written a good bill not only for American agriculture, but for millions of needy Americans and I strongly urge the President to sign it into law.”
Sen. Chambliss championed several provisions in the bill including a measure to exempt IRS-approved education and retirement accounts from counting against the asset limit for food stamps. The nutrition title received the largest funding increase, totaling over $10 billion in new resources to enhance our country’s nutrition safety-net. Sen. Chambliss has noted that the increase was no small accomplishment and additional resources were made available by reductions in the commodity and crop insurance programs.
The following reforms and improvements are included in the nutrition title of the report:
• STRENGTHENS ASSISTANCE FOR FOOD BANKS: To help local organizations dedicated to fight hunger, the farm bill provides $1.256 billion over the next ten years to increase commodity purchases for food banks – an increase of nearly double the current level of funding.
• ENCOURAGES RETIREMENT AND EDUCATION SAVINGS: The nutrition title includes a provision which would exempt IRS-approved retirement and education savings accounts from the asset test when applying for benefits. This provision will help protect low-income Americans from having to deplete certain IRS-approved accounts, as well as pay the penalties and taxes for early withdrawal, if they are in need of short-term assistance.
• INCREASES THE STANDARD DEDUCTION FOR FOOD STAMP HOUSEHOLDS: The farm bill increases the standard deduction from $134 to $144 and indexes it to inflation, therefore providing a slightly higher benefit level for many participating households.
• INCREASES THE MINIMUM BENEFIT: The current minimum benefit is set at $10 and has not been raised in over 30 years. The bill raises the minimum benefit to $14 and indexes that level to future inflation.
• UPDATES THE NAME OF THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM: To better reflect the mission of the program and the fact that “stamps” have been replaced by electronic benefit cards, the new name is the “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program”.
• PROVIDES MORE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO SCHOOL CHILDREN: The bill includes an expansion of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which provides free fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income children in schools. Over the next ten years, $1 billion is invested in this initiative, which will allow it to serve as many as 3 million low-income children.
• CONTINUES THE SENIOR FARMERS’ MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM: The bill expands food assistance to low-income seniors by $50 million over the next ten years in order to help them purchase agricultural products at farmers’ markets, roadside stands and other community-supported agriculture programs.
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 has already passed the House and will now be sent to the President.
Audio of Sen. Chambliss’ floor speech on Senate passage of the farm bill can be found at http://agriculture.senate.gov
Joe, you are exactly right.
Saxby Chambliss, a one-term senator is up for re-election this year. Despite a pitiful fiscal record, not one conservative stepped up to oppose him in the GOP primary. Thus, he will likely return to DC for another 6 years of being the farm boy big spender of OPM.
Just like with president, this conservative voter will cast my ballot with a write-in (or Libertarian if in the race) for senator representing Georgia…no way will I vote for this bogus conservative again.
I will give Tom Price credit he spoke out against this bill!
The Republicans are utterly worthless. There’s practically no way to distinguish between the two parties any more. And there’s no telling what’s hidden in this Bill. Something out of a Sci-fi horror movie I’m sure. Were any new agencies created? How about something to beef up the police state? Or why not throw in some genetic research grants so they can cross a tomato with a Tasmanian devil. Sounds good to me. mmm mmmm mmm.
UPDATE:
Saxby the Spender defended his support of the pork filled Ag Bill at the GA GOP convention on Friday by pointing out…’that 70 percent of the bill’s spending goes toward food stamps, school lunches and food banks —- which benefit one in every 10 Georgians.’
This is what the GOP will run on to regain the majority…f’n welfare!!!!
And Peggy Noonan thinks it is Bush’s fault that government is spending too much…what an idiot.
Kudos to the 5 of 7 GA GOP legislators who voted against the Farm bill in the House. Shame on Saxby and Johnny for supporting it in the Senate (and promising to help override the inevitable presidential veto).
Where is the credit for Bush when he vetos big spending legislation like this monstrosity? Come on Peggy, John and the rest of you neomarxists.
Bart
You were for the pork spending before you were against it!
At the end Bart look in the mirror!
“Farm Bill” is usually a misnomer anyway. More like corporate welfare for agribusiness at the expense of family farms.