BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

Senator Mitch McConnell wants us to subsidize horse farms in Kentucky!  If that doesn’t get your attention, nothing will.  This is the same Mitch McConnell that stands on his morality and holier than thou attitude about everything, including Roger Clements getting a steroid shot in the ass.  Yet, he has no problem adding a little horse meat to ”The Farm Bill”.  I swear, I just have a hard time thinking that taxpayer dollars could possibly be subsidizing the Kentucky Derby winner.

“The Farm Bill” as it is commonly known must be reauthorized by Friday April 18, 2008.  We have all heard the stories of the family farm that is about to go under.  We certainly don’t want that to happen.  It could be catastrophic for America.  But….

Like everything else that comes out of Washington these days, there is something that stinks in the bill and we aren’t talking about cow dung.

The concept of “The Farm Bill” started in the Depression era, but over the years it has evolved into a Cash Cow for many farmers who have learned to work the system.  And, now Senator McConnell wants subsidies for Kentucky’s finest.  It’s a little line placed deep in the text of the bill that won’t draw much attention from those who vote on the bill.

According to a recent report:

 With grain prices soaring, farm income at record highs and the federal budget deficit widening, the subsidies and handouts given to American farmers would seem vulnerable to a serious pruning.

But it appears that farmers, at least so far, have succeeded in stopping the strongest effort in years to shrink the government safety net that doles out billions of dollars to them each year. –”Bountiful Harvest: Farm Lobby Beats Back Assault On Subsidies,” THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, March 27, 2008

I refer you to Expose on Bill Moyers Journal.  In Texas, people are building houses on farm land that is no longer being farmed and collecting subsidies or extra “disaster” benefits.  I’m sure it occurs throughout the country, but in the piece entitled Cash Cows and Cowboy Starter Kits, Gilbert Gaul and Sarah Cohen of the Washington Post expose the waste, the amount of money, over $1.3 Billion in the past 7 years that have been paid for so-called disasters that either didn’t occur or had no effect on the collecting homeowners. 

Additionally, “The Farm Bill” pays huge subsidies to farmers who are earning a million dollars a year or more, making it more difficult for those who need the assistance to receive it. 

And, to top it off, good old Senator McConnell is trying to steal a few more dollars for his friends and Naaaay-sayers.

There will be a week of debate somewhere in Washington before Friday, but of note is that “The Farm Bill” will be passed and the taxpayers will pay dearly.  The bill is one of those “heartland” affairs that has a strong lobby and when it is presented to the public, somehow we never hear about the waste or the pork barrel spending that doesn’t go for pork…. but goes for Kentucky thoroughbreds.  Thank you, Mitch!