The Heritage Foundation released an interesting article today on the upcoming vote to reauthorize farm subsidies and the member of Congress that will be benefiting from its reauthorization.
Not benefiting from votes from farmers or corporate farms donating to their campaigns. No, it is far more exasperating than that. They will actually be getting money paid directly to them.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data reveal that this group of direct financial beneficiaries includes many Members of Congress who receive USDA subsidies and who will be voting on the farm bill reauthorization. Under current law, many MemÂbers and their families who engage in farming receive direct cash payments from the U.S. Treasury courtesy of the taxpayer…
So who are they? The Heritage Foundation offers a list of Senators and Congressman who are on the list to receive subsidies, and how much they get:
- Senator R. Jon Tester (D–MT), “Between 1995 and 2005, the farm received $232,311 in USDA subsidies”
- Senator Gordon H. Smith (R–OR), “received $45,400 in wheat-related subsidies between 1995 and 2005.”
- Senator Ken Salazar (D–CO), and his brother, Representative John T. Salazar (D–CO), “From 1995 through 2005, the Representative received $161,084 in agriÂcultural subsidies from the U.S. Treasury, and the SenÂator received $770 in 2002.
- SenaÂtor Charles Grassley (R–IA), “Grassley received $225,041 in USDA subsiÂdies…between 1995 and 2005.”
- Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D–SD), “her father and former South Dakota governor, Ralph Lars Herseth, is a major beneficiary of federal farm proÂgrams. Between 1995 and 2005, he received $789,575 in federal farm support”
- Senator Sam Brownback (R–KS), “received $40,403 in farm subsiÂdies (mostly for conservation) between 1995 and 2005. His father, Glenn Robert Brownback of Parker, Kansas, received $319,662 over the same period, and his brother, John R. Brownback, also of Parker, received $286,082.”
- Senator Richard Lugar (R–IN), who is a senior member of the Senate AgriculÂture Committee, “Between 1995 and 2005, Lugar Stock Farms, Inc., received $126,555 in USDA subsidies.”
There are many more out there who benefit directly from farm subsidies. This conflict of interest is outrageous. But it gets worse:
Members of Congress are not the only politically influential individuals and institutions that receive USDA subsidies. Professional lobbyists, leaders of agriculture trade associations, state agencies, and politically active not-for-profit organizations also receive funds from the USDA.
Some of those other individuals and institutions:
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The State of Montana – $35,314,692 from the USDA between 1995 and 2005
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Washington Department of Natural Resources – $11,412,027 in USDA subsiÂdies between 1995-2005
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Ducks Unlimited – $28,338,088 from the USDA from 1995 to 2005.
The Chicago Tribune has a different story, but with a similar theme. The Environmental Working Group compiled a database showing who benefits from farm subsidies.
The database includes about 358,000 beneficiaries who received $9.8 billion in crop subsidy benefits between 2003 and 2005. The list includes Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen, whose net worth of $18 billion makes him the fifth-richest person in the U.S., according to Forbes magazine; Texas oilman and billionaire Lee Bass; and former Bulls star Scottie Pippen.
Paul Allen is a farmer? Scottie Pippen drives a tractor? What is going on in this country?
The Heritage concludes that there needs to be some conflict of interest changes made in the Congress to prevent this type of abuse. I disagree. I think we need to simply do away with farm subsidies completely. If a farm, or any business, cannot survive on its own, it should be allowed to fail and let someone else fill that hole in the market. It’s harsh, but my tax dollars should not be spent to prop up an unprofitable business.
