Farm Bill: 800 Pages from an 800-Pound Lobby

Congress and the White House are Republican. The latter proposed modest reforms to food stamps and farm subsidies in its budget. The House passed modest reforms to food stamps. Liberal and conservative analysts favor reforms to farm subsidies,which are actually subsidies to wealthy landowners.Yet Congress is set to pass an $867 billion farm/food stamp bill with virtually no smaller-government reforms, and the president will probably sign it. The800-page bill is backed by an 800-pound lobbying gorilla with two muscular arms —the farm lobby and the anti-poverty lobby.Where does an 800-pound gorilla sit? Wherever it wants to, including on American taxpayers.I said the bill is “appalling.”Heritage says it is a “nightmare.”NTU says it will “expand welfare to the wealthy.” R Street and AFPsay it is“a huge jumble of subsidies.”Politico says the farm bill is a “win for Democrats,” noting:  Leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees rejected sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [i.e. food stamps] that House Republicans and President Donald Trump had sought, clearing a path for bipartisan support in both chambers. The final bill also sidesteps a Senate attempt to tighten limits on subsidies for wealthier farmers.The bill, which has an estimated price tag of $867 billion over a decade, could have a floor vote in the House as soon as Wednesday. Quick passage in the House would allow the Senate to vote on the bill later this ...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs