Center for Rural Affairs Calls on Speaker Pelosi to Allow Further Debate on the Farm Bill
Release Date:
07/20/2007Contact(s):
John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org, Phone: (402) 687-2103 ext. 1010; or Chuck Hassebrook, chuckh@cfra.org, Phone: (402) 687-2100The Center for Rural Affairs today asked House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi to withhold action on the farm bill until the full implications of its payment limitation increase can be examined and discussed by the public.
“The Committee bill provides a major increase in subsidies for mega-farms to drive smaller operations out of business. Under this legislation, government would spend more to destroy family farming,” Chuck Hassebrook, Center for Rural Affairs Executive Director, wrote in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
According to Hassebrook, the public and family farmers were misled by statements that the committee was acting to tighten farm payment limitations. “Truth be told,” said Hassebrook, “the limit on direct farm payments was increased from $80,000 to $120,000 for married farmers. Only a few single farmers will face a small payment limitation reduction.”
“Family farmers and the American public have been sold a bill of goods,” wrote Hassebrook. “They need time to learn the truth and express their views. Please delay action until after the August recess to enable family farmers and the America public to express their views on this legislation to increase subsidies to mega farms to drive smaller operations out of business.”
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