Farm Bill 2012 -- a budget challenge for Mike Conaway

Yesterday's morning paper contained a front pager about Texas District 11 Representative Mike Conaway and the current budget debate. Quote:

"We know enough about the problems we face that putting it off will not gain us any additional insight into the problem," Conaway said. "We know the problem, it's not rocket science, it's spending."

Mr. Conaway is so popular in District 11 that voters gave him 80% of their votes in the 2010 election. Maybe the lure of that remaining 20% is what compels him to hold all of those fund raisers 1,600 miles away from the district in which his constituents reside -- did you get your invitation to the CONAPAC Golf Outing in Owings Mills, MD, this weekend? A cynic might suggest it could be the lure of money some are willing to pay for access to people in power, but let's stick with what we know.

Mr. Conaway, in spite of winning a 2009 Taxpayer's Friend Award, has been consistent in his support of government subsidies paid to farmers. During the Bush administration he fought tooth and nail against any efforts at reform, especially against a push to cut subsidies to people with ultra high incomes. Mr. Conaway, ever the egalitarian, held fast to the principle that a person can't be too rich to be on the government dole.

So when he says he "reluctantly supports" agriculture appropriations legislation H.R. 2112, a bill which WashingtonWatch.com says will cost the average family $1,206.36, one must wonder why he is reluctant. He isn't getting any pressure from constituents and probably isn't getting much from other Republicans in the House.

But that could change as the Farm Bill comes up for renewal in 2012 when the subsidy supporters go to battle with the budget reformers.

Let's conclude with this observation from Doug Bandow in It’s Time To Kick Farmers Off The Federal Dole :

Government subsidies obviously aren’t necessary for food production: people have fed themselves and traded their surpluses for thousands of years. The system doesn’t help consumers. Reducing supplies and imposing price floors obviously are bad deals for the hungry. Paying off farmers might lower some prices, but steals back through taxes any benefits received by consumers. Agricultural subsidies are designed by farmers for farmers.

To quote our very own Congressman "We know the problem, it's not rocket science, it's spending."

Comments

[Leoes]

As I told Fred earlier, one of my Senators, Mrs. Dole voted aaisngt the bailout last night. The other, Senator Burr, voted for it. Monday, Mike McIntrye a democrat, my Congressman voted aaisngt the bailout in the House. I know he has been beaten up by the Dems ever since, so I have NO idea how he will vote on it the second time around in the House either today or tomorrow. See, this is why I have been saying over the past two years we conservatives are going to have to have our own party. The repubs are happy to use us and abuse us, but the bottom line is they don't give a damn about us and would give durn near anthing to be rid of us. We are a burr under their saddles. I really wish I had a political party and a presidential candidate I could get behind and support! I HATE this! I feel sidelined not being in the fight. And I do not like it!J. D. Longstreet