Posted on 12/04/2015 12:21:04 PM PST by springwater13
With the Iowa caucuses less than two months away, Ted Cruz seemed to have an epiphany Thursday night on one of the state's — and agricultural lobby's — biggest issues in Congress.
Cruz (R-Texas) initially voted with fiscal hardliners to retain $3 billion in crop insurance cuts that were made as part of a budget deal approved in October. After a visit to the Senate cloakroom, Cruz returned and flipped his vote to side with farming interests, which ultimately prevailed. The crop insurance votes were part of a debate on a highway bill, which Cruz opposed on a final vote, calling it fiscally irresponsible.
Presidential rival and Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) also joined the popular effort to protect the restoration of the crop insurance money but voted against the final bill. After taking several minutes deliberating whether to side with farmers, Rubio drew sarcastic applause from his colleagues during the draining seven-hour voting slog on Thursday night. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), also running for president, voted for the crop insurance funding and the overall highway bill.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
“Those opposed to Cruz, typically Trump fans, don’t care what the publication is. If an article or column tarnishes Cruz, they’ll jump all over it like a gaggle of concern trolls ...”
Yeah.
Cruz supports NEVER do that...
From the following link, it sounds like the crop insurance is private, and the insurance companies are subsidized to an extent (surprise). There is a reason why it is difficult for a Senator to become President - they have a detailed record of all of their votes that can be nit-picked.
I’m reminded of a lawyer friend when I asked about a case. “Well - we worked it out and settled out of court and everyone was satisfied. But everyone had to compromise. And that seems like such a, well, compromise.” Same with trying to get all of these bills through with all the various stuff in them. (Crop insurance in a highway bill!?)
http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/what/history.html
Government and Private Sector Roles - FCIC’s mission is to encourage the sale of crop insurance — through licensed private agents and brokers — to the maximum extent possible. FCIC also provides reinsurance (subsidy) to approved commercial insurers which insure agricultural commodities using FCIC-approved acceptable plans. Since 1998, the private insurance companies reinsured by FCIC have sold and serviced all Multiple Peril Crop Insurance authorized under the Federal Crop Insurance Act.
The fact that Ted Cruz was elected to represent Texas, one of the biggest agricultural states in the U.S., might have had something to do with the way he voted. Disaster insurance is the only thing that stands between farmers and the loss of their farms and livelihoods when nature hits hard.
It soundfs like this was a proposed amendment on a much bigger bill. My suspicion is that Cruz’ support was gotten in exchange for a concession on another amendment. The whole thing collapsed, so Cruz didn’t vote for the final product.
No one accuses Rand Paul of being a big government subsidy guy, and he also voted for the ag insurance.
If you are a Texas farmer wiped out by an extended drought, flooding or hail, you might appreciate a Senator who votes for the crop insurance that saves your farm.
“After all, they can’t even pass a statewide ethanol mandate in Iowa.”
Harrumph. It’s just plain common sense that we should burn our food. I can’t believe there’s any opposition to ethanol mandates.
That we know of today.
Why is it so hard for folks to understand that a Senator from Texas, a huge agricultural state, has to vote to protect the farms in his state from natural disaster? Same thing with Rand Paul in Kentucky.
Thanks for your excellent clarification. When a less slanted publication reports on the vote, I believe you will be proven correct on what happened in the process.
Those were my initial thoughts. Neither one is exactly a big government GOPe type and it is hard to pass judgement on things I am, admittedly, ignorant on.
Obamacare insurance bad
Farm insurance good
Shouldn’t they both be private sector?
Crop insurance is partially private sector. It actually saves the government money by subsidizing the insurance rather than having to pick up the full tab for disaster loss.
All health insurance bad.
Thanks. Seems like a double standard to me.
There are some areas of the public sector that are so vital to the nation that measures have to be taken to keep them from failing. Agriculture is one of those. Food shortages and collapsing farms endanger a nation at every level. Consider it a part of national security, because it actually is.
trump has no need to sell out further. He’s already sold out on the biggie - ethanol.
So when your guy supports a big government program, it’s okay.
Look, I get it. Thank you.
This is the reason why slimy politicians like Barry vote "present" or just skip votes. It's a luxury someone actually in the trenches doesn't have.
Article, as written, was confusing, which may in part reflect a confusing series of events. But I think it said Cruz started against the $3B crop insurance and ended up voting against the final bill (the notoriously pork filled annual highway bill) containing it. So he ended up where he started, voting against it. A better question is how in the world does crop insurance belong in a “highway” bill?!! Need to overthrow the Washington Cartel and their status quo.
Farmers are the army that feeds us. Helping to protect their existence and ability to produce food is part of national security.
From a young age I was told, “Never criticize a farmer with your mouth full”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.