Despite a loss, progress seen on farm subsidy reform

[underpants]

Source: SF Gate




(12-12) 04:00 PST Washington - -- The Senate rejected an overhaul of farm subsidies Tuesday, but the 37-58 vote - and support for radical reform from California Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer - represents one of the biggest moves against crop subsidies in the 75-year history of farm programs.

More key votes to whittle away at the subsidies are expected, starting Wednesday.

Second-ranking Senate Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois, Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Robert Menendez of New Jersey all voted yes, along with GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, second-ranking Republican Jon Kyl of Arizona, and Jim DeMint of South Carolina.

"A bunch of very interesting senators decided fundamental reform is a good idea," said Rick Swartz, a coordinator of the left-right coalition of anti-poverty, environmental, taxpayer, development, minority farmer and public health groups opposing the farm bill. "These are very serious people in real leadership positions."

More tests lie ahead. The biggest expected today would limit payments to $250,000 a year to any farm. Another amendment would limit subsidies to farmers earning less than $750,000 a year. Even the staunchest supporters of crop subsidies are worried that widespread publicity about huge farming operations getting millions of dollars of subsidies is jeopardizing support for farm programs.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/12/MN58TS60R.DTL

[murielm99]

1. If Durbin is supporting this I am okay with it.

Illinois is a farming state.

Limiting subsidies to large landowners is fine. Just don't take them away from small farmers like us. Many family farmers cannot survive without the subsidies. And don't kid yourselves. There are many family farmers in Northern Illinois and Iowa. Don't kill our livelihoods.