Congress approves five-year farm bill

Politico ^ | Feb 4, 2014 | David Rogers

[GIdget2004]

The long-tortured farm bill cleared Congress Tuesday, ending a two year struggle that split the old farm-food coalition as never before and dramatized the growing isolation of agriculture and rural America in an ever more urban House.

Written off as dead just months ago, the giant five-year measure won final approval from the Senate on a 68-32 roll call and goes next to President Barack Obama for his signature.

[Oliviaforever]

Long past time that we End Farm Subsidies.

[AU72]

Those of you who heat with oil, pony up.

[bassmaner]

'5-year measure'? Sounds an awful lot like '5-year Plan'.

Didn't we fight the Cold War for 40 years to defeat the USSR? Looks like we're becoming the USSR.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

‘twould be interesting to see a vote tally.

[SkyPilot]

Billions more for Food Stamps in this bill. Billions. Almost 80% of the total. But we cut military pensions for men and women in uniform who have been deployed 5 or 6 times - all to “save” $500 Million.

[tractorman]

Anything in it for real farmers?

[JimRed]

A new Five Year Plan? Just like the old Soviet Union?

[Paine in the Neck]

The final vote is not up yet but this is the cloture vote tally. You can check the site later to see if they've posted the final vote.

[RatRipper]

struggle that split the old farm-food coalition as never before and dramatized the growing isolation of agriculture and rural America in an ever more urban House

These are fundamentals behind the first war between the states.

Farm subsidies and other policy affecting farm production (to include the absurdly wrong-headed, immoral ethynol requirement) have become way too political and not based on good sense. Estate taxes that cause the sale of family farms to pay taxes is an evil that favors corporate, big farm entities, not to mention vast increases in federal farm regulation that hit family farms the hardest. I'm not an expert,but it seems to me that, with respect to our food supply, the federal government is DEFINITELY NOT our friend.

[bigbob]

no - theirs might have actually accomplished something

[Pining_4_TX]

Of course the reasons food stamps and farm subsidies are lumped togetherare that it secures the votes of welfare state legislators and farm state legislators. Something for everyone!

What people fail to understand is that subsidies hurt those being subsidized. They see the immediate payola, but fail to see they get hurt in the long run. Farm subsidies are a big reason why the family farm is dying.

I read that this bill is even worse than earlier ones, because it puts taxpayers on the hook for almost any and all risks farmers face. Higher taxes and higher food prices. Once again we have the triumph of special interests over the good of the country.

[henkster]

[nascarnation]

Cool poster!
Was that their one millionth tractor produced?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Looks like Grassley voted against the bill.

[Carriage Hill]

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=2&vote=00021

[NormsRevenge]

Another fine five year plan you’ve gotten us into, Stanley!

Time to loose the Keystone Pipeline Kops Brigade!

[Paine in the Neck]

Of course the reasons food stamps and farm subsidies are lumped togetherare that it secures the votes of welfare state legislators and farm state legislators. Something for everyone!

And WalMart. They love selling subsidized ag to SNAP card shoppers.

[SeminoleCounty]

Unless your a Corporate Farmer or a Liberal Free Trader...you’re getting bleeped over by this welfare program

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Crony capitalism back on the ranch