We have some big challenges facing the Republican Party in Congress right now. The GOP lost our majority 2006 in a large part because our party became that which we opposed – the party of big spending. When the 2006 elections were over, the Club for Growth conducted surveys in 15 competitive House seats (where neither candidate was tainted with scandal) and guess what they found out? The GOP had completely lost its fiscal conservative branding. The most startling results was when those polled asked which political party in Washington was “The Party of Big Government” – the results? Republicans 39.3% and Democrats 27.9% – shocking, and sad. (Read more about the CfG survey here).
Yesterday, the lead editorial in the Wall Street Journal was all about how the Republicans, now in the minority in Congress, still don’t get it (in terms of the need for fiscal restraint). Here is an excerpt:
Facing this terrible challenge as a political party, along comes the final vote on the grotesque and bloated Farm Bill.
Before we go on, let’s look more closely at the Farm Bill…
Here are just a few key points about the Farm Bill as outlined by the Club for Growth:
• The elimination of key limits on annual commodity payments
• Spending gimmicks that disguise over $10 billion in spending increases
• An increase in subsidy rates despite sky-high crop prices and record farm incomes
• Direct payments for crops that are not based on a farmer’s income, crop prices, or any standard of need
• The creation of a new, permanent disaster aid program, creating incentives to grow the wrong crops on bad land in bad weather
• Tax breaks for special interests like race horse owners and timber companies
If that isn’t enough to turn your stomach, here is an excerpt from an editorial that ran Wednesday in the Investor’s Business Daily, Harvest of Shame:
As Heritage Foundation economist Brian Riedl has noted, since enactment of the last farm bill in 2002, prices for key crops have surged 281%. And they’re still surging.Yet, we continue to support, subsidize and shower this sector with billions in taxpayer dollars. Also Wednesday, the government reported that in contrast with tame inflation overall last month, food prices shot up 5.1% from a year earlier — the largest gain since 1990 (see chart).
Reform? In addition to $25 billion a year in subsidies and $5 billion in direct payments to farmers, regardless of crop prices, the bill provides another $1 billion for food stamps, school lunches and other social programs; more protection for sugar growers; tax breaks for thoroughbred race horses; money for fruit and vegetable marketing; more cash support for "organic" foods; and, of course, a billion more for biofuels. But not a shred of "reform."
With this as the backdrop, you have to wonder what on Earth nearly half of Congressional Republicans were thinking?? One hundred Republicans in the House of Representatives voted for this terrible legislation, and in the U.S. Senate, it was even worse with only 13 Republican Senators (one third!) opposing the Farm Bill.
Looking at our California Republican Members of Congress, we can be pretty proud of our delegation. Of 19 Republicans, 14 voted against the bill, and one (Mary Bono Mack, whose father passed away) did not vote. So only four Republicans voted for the Farm Bill you just read about above – John Doolittle, Elton Gallegly, Wally Herger and George Radanovich.
**There is more – click the link**
May 16th, 2008 at 12:00 am
This is what Radanovich put out:
Washington DC – Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) voted today to support the Farm Bill, H.R. 2419, the Food, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 2007.
“I would like to commend my colleagues for their tireless work on the reauthorization of the Farm Bill. While I have reservations on the overall cost of this Farm Bill, as a representative of one of the nation’s largest specialty crop producing districts I would be remiss in my responsibility to represent my constituents if I did not support this measure,” Radanovich said.
“We must recognize the importance of the historic achievements for specialty crops in this legislation,” Radanovich said. “California agriculture may never again benefit so greatly from a Farm Bill as they will from this legislation.”
“For the first time in the history of the Farm Bill, specialty crops—that comprise the majority of California agriculture—are being given the attention they deserve,” Radanovich said. “Specialty crop farmers put the fruit, vegetables, nuts and berries in the mouths of millions of Americans and warrant the same treatment as commodity crop farmers.”
“The San Joaquin Valley has some of the worst air quality in the nation, yet we also supply the country with food. The funds provided in this bill allow our farmers to continue their important work while cleaning up the Valley’s dirty air by helping retrofit old pumps and engines or assisting in the purchase of new, clean farm equipment,” Radanovich said.
The new Farm Bill will give specialty crops $1.3 billion over ten years in research and marketing assistance, and block grants. The legislation also extends $1 billion to schools in all states for a nutrition program of fresh fruits and vegetables. California and Florida are the primary beneficiaries of specialty crop incentives, with California receiving over 40 percent of the specialty crop block grants.
The new Farm Bill provides $3.3 billion to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which includes $150 million for air quality issues in non-attainment areas.
“This past year has highlighted the dangers of importing food from places such as China that lack health and safety measures designed to keep consumers protected from diseased food,” Radanovich said. “During this time of high food prices and economic unrest, we need to give our specialty crop farmers the tools and incentives to feed America and be competitive in a global marketplace.”
May 16th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Moderates being swept from office in Republican Party esposed Rodney Kings’s statement: Can’t we all get along together?”.
Goodbye….and get a good day job!
May 16th, 2008 at 12:00 am
There’s nothing “moderate” about this Farm bill. It is old-fashioned redistribution of wealth — in this case to many who make seven figures already.
This was about Republicans, many from rural districts, pandering to their ag constituencies rather than stepping back and looking at the big picture.
How, exactly, do you make the case for taking back the majority if you are going to be like the Democrats in your fiscal policies?
May 16th, 2008 at 12:00 am
In Wally Herger’s release (see below) he is pleased the the Farm Bill does not raise taxes. When you pass legislation with billions of dollars in egregious spending, you are either contributing to the national debt, or are spending taxpayer-taken dollars that should be returned.
Tsk tsk…
Congressman Wally Herger today voted in favor of H.R. 2419, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). The bill passed the House by a vote of 318 to 106. The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration before it can be sent to the President. Upon passage of the bill, Congressman Herger issued the following statement:
“A healthy and productive agricultural industry is a critically important part of Northern California’s rural economy. We are the second largest rice growing region in the nation and grow over half of all the dried plums produced in the world. Our farmers are world leaders in almond and walnut production as well.
“Farm prices are strong right now, but if history is any guide, market conditions can and often do balance out. Northern California’s farmers and ranchers face the constant threat of disease and insect infestation, as well as weather related disasters. It’s important that America’s farm policy recognizes the risk inherent in agricultural production and provides farmers and ranchers with the tools necessary to succeed in today’s competitive global marketplace. This Farm Bill provides that support.
“It is by no means a perfect measure. But by-and-large this legislation provides important support for Northern California’s multi-billion dollar agricultural economy. And it does so without raising taxes – an important improvement from the Farm Bill that passed the House last July.
“Although subsidy reform is a part of this bill, we shouldn’t lose sight of the need to move toward a market-oriented system here at home combined with lower trade barriers overseas. As the lead Republican on the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, I will continue to push for the removal of unfair trade barriers for U.S. agricultural products. Unless and until these unfair barriers are removed, I believe it would be unwise for the United States to unilaterally disarm by abandoning support for our farmers.”
May 16th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Wow – John Doolittle voted YES on this bill! Isn’t he one of the hero’s of the far right wing?
May 16th, 2008 at 12:00 am
only to the blind members of the “far” right wing. Doolittle’s career is littered with support for pork and the perks of office.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:00 am
These posts and other related articles in Flash Report have a common theme.
They tell us about prennial losers, opportunists and people working for “us” who could not hold down a repectable day job!
May 17th, 2008 at 12:00 am
I’ll give Devin Nunes and Kevin McCarthy a compliment. I trust they voted no and no one in their district’s got any perks since they knew their vote wouldn’t change the outcome.