MR-T wants us to vote for Conaway, but let's not forget about the Farm Bill

An editorial in today's MR-T (Midland Reporter-Telegram) print edition tries to tell us we should re-elect Mike Conaway for U.S. Representative of Texas District 11 saying they "solidly stand behind Conaway in the work he has done for the district." That's basically saying he should be re-elected because he's the incumbent.

But does no one else get a little bit steamed to hear Mr. Conaway's radio ads proclaiming him to be a fiscal conservative when he was such a cheerleader as the House and Senate overrode President Bush's veto of the Farm Bill?

The Bush administration was trying to rein in government spending, but Bush doesn't get enough credit for that. What we had was an out of control Congress which was spending like a bunch of drunken sailors, to quote a losing presidential contender.

The Farm Bill is a system of redistributing wealth -- taking tax money from a large group of people and giving it to a small group of well connected people who have become so dependent on government handouts that they probably couldn't make a living without it. Back in the '90s conservatives complained about "welfare queens," and the resulting welfare reform worked to get people off welfare and into careers.

According to the Environmental Working Group's Farm Subsidy Database, "Recipients of Total USDA Subsidies from farms in 11th district of Texas (Rep. K. Michael Conaway) totaled $1,472,000,000 in from 1995-2006." Here's a glance at the top twenty recipients from the website:

USDA Subsidies 1995-2006
1 Strain Ranches, Colorado City, TX 79512 = $3,336,954
2 W & K Farms, Garden City, TX 79739 = $3,117,228
3 Phinney Brothers, San Angelo, TX 76905 = $2,687,765
4 Schniers Brothers, San Angelo, TX 76904 = $2,401,830
5 Billy Eggemeyer Farms, Midland, TX 79706 = $2,314,910
6 Glenn W Hogg, Lamesa, TX 79331 = $2,301,544
7 Mike C Tyler, Lamesa, TX 79331 = $2,289,924
8 R R Ranch, Sweetwater, TX 79556 = $2,097,757
9 Dugwell Partnership, Lamesa, TX 79331 = $2,082,275
10 Morris Farms, Colorado City, TX 79512 =$2,030,105
11 Newbrough Farms, Andrews, TX 79714 = $2,026,727
12 Blaine Middleton, Lamesa, TX 79331 = $2,024,020
13 Jim-ric Farms, Lamesa, TX 79331 = $1,998,896
14 Denis Ranch, Vancourt, TX 76955 = $1,937,387
15 Woody Bros, Stanton, TX 79782 = $1,932,690
16 Ricky & Lisa Bowman Farms, Hermleigh, TX 79526 = $1,889,251
17 Mark Boardman, Lamesa, TX 79331 = $1,882,837
18 A Clay Kemper , Midland, TX 79707 = $1,874,945
19 C-cot Inc, Lamesa, TX 79331 = $1,865,662
20 Eugene & Marilee Jost Farms, Garden City, TX 79739 = $1,852,149.

They are probably just ordinary everyday down-to-earth country folk millionaires -- millionaires who figured out how to work the system.

What we need now is some sort of welfare reform for cotton farmers to get them off the government dole and into meaningful work. Is Mike Conaway, who worked harder than anyone to keep them on the government dole, the right person for the job?

Post Script (added 2/16/10): Democratic candidate for the District 11 seat, James Quillian, emails:

This the underlying cause of the unrestrained growth of government.

It is the wealthiest Americans who benefit most from the growth of government. Those with the money and power to make government small have no incentive to do so.

A true conservative can see that. I ask you. In district 11, are any of the republican candidates real conservatives?

This is a blind spot for Republicans because seeing it is counter to their culture.

Comments

[Jeff]

George, a little ways into the first pragraph, I realized this was a serious post about a topic on which you feel very strongly ...

But that wasn't what I was at first expecting - and let me say the fault is entirely the reader's here. I misunderstood the abbreviation in your headline, and was prepared for some announcement that Mr. T was endorsing Mr. C, and 'pitied the fool' who'd vote otherwise.

Once I've posted this comment, I'm signing for the evening ... a good night's sleep should do me a world of good. :-)

[Geo]

Good point. I should have thought about that, Jeff. I've added something in the first sentence that should help clear that up.

[Mr T]

I'm assumin thats not BA Barakus Mr T

[Geo]

Oops, sorry for the confusion Mr. T. It's Midland Reporter-Telegram.

I'll know better next time.

[Mr T]

I'm sure they look very similar