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The Incredible Raisin Heist
WSJ ^ | 4/20/2015 | N/A

Posted on 04/22/2015 8:47:43 AM PDT by Baynative

Stealing is illegal, unless the government is the thief. On Wednesday the Supreme Court will hear a case on whether the government can seize a chunk of a business’s product to regulate prices. This is a big one.

Like much government mischief, Horne v. USDA has its roots in the Great Depression and federal programs to prop up the price of goods by controlling supply. To create raisin scarcity, the government established a Raisin Administrative Committee that manages the supply of raisins through annual marketing orders. Raisin handlers must set aside a portion of their annual crop, which the feds may then give away, sell on the open market, or send overseas.

Among the targets were Fresno, California raisin farmers Marvin and Laura Horne, who have been in the business for decades. In 2003-2004 the family farm was required to give some 30% of its raisin crop to the government—some 306 tons—without compensation. The previous year they had to hand over 47%, and they were paid less than the raisins cost to produce.

The Hornes refused to participate...

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: courts; heist; property; raisins; scotus; scotusraisins
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To: jonno
The oral arguments were just posted at the supreme Court. here
21 posted on 04/22/2015 12:59:32 PM PDT by zeugma ( The Clintons Could Find a Loophole in a Stop Sign)
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To: zeugma

Thank you!


22 posted on 04/22/2015 1:43:36 PM PDT by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
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To: PGR88

That worked - thanks!


23 posted on 04/22/2015 1:49:59 PM PDT by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
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To: zeugma
MR. KNEEDLER (Govt): Because this is a comprehensive governmental program, and and it it governs quality, it governs timing of sales, and it's important to recognize that's all that is going on here. The reserve raisins are set aside by the handler. After the producer has voluntarily turned them over, they're set aside by the handler for later sale.

It's like a scene out of Atlas Shrugged...

24 posted on 04/22/2015 2:58:22 PM PDT by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
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To: Ken H
"Just sour grapes."


25 posted on 04/22/2015 3:11:16 PM PDT by clearcarbon
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To: Snickering Hound

The government screw-ups in the area of wheat production go back at least a hundred years. When the Sioux Indians were reservationed they were to become farmers and were issued a cow. Instead they became cowboys and by the WW1 were making reasonable lives running the cattle on the reservation land. The government decided more wheat was needed and convinced the Indians to lease their land for wheat production. The cows were sold & the neighboring white man farmers planted much wheat. Soon the war was over and there was a vast excess of wheat production and the reservation wheat production ceased. The Indian’s cows were gone as was the grass for grazing.


26 posted on 04/22/2015 4:19:50 PM PDT by Western Phil
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To: jonno

Screw the WSJ!!

Here’s a link that’s very comprehensive! What is happening to these farmers is a national disgrace.

http://www.inquisitr.com/1105608/raisin-growers-file-lawsuit-against-usda/

And I am betting we have dozens of “Ag Boards” diddling this commodity or that, pocketing “ the gains” and not paying back the farmers.


27 posted on 04/22/2015 4:26:46 PM PDT by vette6387
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To: vette6387

Agreed. I’m somewhat hopeful after reading the transcript (below); even the liberal (SCotUS) justices did not seem to totally buy the govt lawyers argument.

The crux of the issue as I understood it is whether or not the govt is “taking” the raisins. The Govt contends that they are not taking the raisins (which they appear to concede that if they were, would require compensation), rather they are merely acting on behalf of a board - of which the majority of the growers are in favor.

I found the oral arguments a compelling read:
http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/14-275_3e04.pdf


28 posted on 04/22/2015 8:45:20 PM PDT by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
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To: clearcarbon
That was one of the things they spent the money on.
29 posted on 04/22/2015 8:51:06 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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