Reform, Don't Rush the Farm Bill

Instead of rushing a $1 trillion taxpayer-funded farm bill through the House of Representatives, Congress should pursue free-market agriculture policies. With growing pressure from agri-businesses demanding the U.S. House of Representatives pass a 2012 Farm Bill has come equally strong opposition from free-market and pro-taxpayer groups. Today, twelve organizations sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) urging him not to rush to pass the farm bill, a nearly $1 trillion taxpayer-funded welfare program for large agri-businesses and food stamps. Signers included Americans for Tax Reform, Taxpayers for Common Sense, National Taxpayers Union, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, Americans for Prosperity, and Heritage Action for America. Most recently, farmers have used this year's drought as a justification for passing the bill. But current farm policies already subsidize insurance for lost crops - to the tune of $11 billion last year even as net farmer income doubled over the last decade to $98 billion. Moreover, almost 80 percent of the House's farm bill goes toward food subsidies, not farm subsidies. Instead of rushing through a farm bill that spends 60 percent more than the last one, the House should work on free-market solutions to agriculture issues that don't prop up farmers at the expense of taxpayers and consumers. Click here  for a copy of the letter.  ATR