Separate the support from subsidies

Lewiston Sun Journal -The farm bill, when passed by the Senate last week, landed with a plop, a cow patty on the meadow of responsible governance. Few observers of federal government found anything redeeming from the legislative largesses the bill bestow on already-wealthy "farmers."

Because the farm bill isn't just about farms. It's also about nutrition policies and low-income assistance programs, like food stamps. Leading into the Senate's vote, there was a rallying cry from Maine to approve some form of the bill, to ensure more than 164,000 of us would have the means to afford food.

The prospect of starving constituents is unpalatable. What's worse, though, is using them as chattel to negotiate subsidies for wealthy farmers. There's no reason for Mainers to potentially go hungry, while policies are deliberated for the benefit states, and people, far across the plains. Yet, they still are....

"Much-needed increases in food and nutrition programs for our nation's low-income families should not, however, be tied to the billions of dollars in agriculture subsidies," says Sen. Susan Collins, who laudably voted against the farm bill, while co-sponsoring an amendment to cut farming subsidies....read more >>