Dog Glitter & Bird Watching: Farm Bill Pays Out Billions to Support These Programs & Products
- Posted on June 19, 2012 at 6:59am by
Becket Adams
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“What does sparkly styling spray for dogs have to do with the 2012 farm bill?” asks The Washington Examiner’s Susan Ferrechio.
“It’s among the thousands of products U.S. taxpayers are subsidizing through little-known programs that have been embedded in the farm legislation for decades and that lawmakers are now fighting to extinguish,” she adds.
It’s true. Your dollars are being used to support everything from multimillion-dollar studies on peas, to bird watching programs, to popcorn producers, to dog glitter. Yes, dog glitter.
“I know that mothers all over America, that have advocated for their children to eat their peas, will be pleased to know that there is a study that is going to cost them $25 million to study peas, lentils and garbanzo beans,” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said last week.
Sen. McCain is part of a contingent of senators who are trying to cut the fat from the farm bill currently being considered by the senate.
“The massive farm bill sets policy and spending levels for the programs affecting agriculture, nutrition, conservation and forestry,” Ferrechio writes. “It includes everything from crop subsidies to food stamps. The bill, last renewed in 2008, now costs $969 billion over 10 years, and senators hope to shave off $23 billion in savings.”
See Sen. McCain discuss the farm bill [via CSPAN]:
Billions of dollars are also put towards programs like the Market Access Program (MAP), which alone pays out $200 million annually to trade associations to “promote U.S. products overseas.”
And while money is being put towards bizarre entities like Espree (the company that makes the dog spray), much more goes to well-known and profitable companies including Blue Diamond, Sunkist, and California Raisins.
“The truth is, MAP is classic corporate welfare that takes taxpayer dollars to benefit big businesses’ bottom line,” Steve Ellis, vice president of the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, told The Washington Examiner.
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) brought up MAP subsidies last week with an amendment that would cut the program by 20 percent, Ferrechio reports.
“Coburn pointed out that not only are profitable businesses collecting subsidies, but in many cases, there is duplication and overlap with other agencies,” she adds.
“The time has come to debate whether the federal government should be in the business of promoting private-market goods to foreign buyers,” Sen. Coburn said.
Front page photo source: Doggy Duds
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Seeweedee
Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:02pmBut watch the libs as they defend spending the bucks to “help”big corporate farmers by appealing to the American Gothic type of struggling small farmers, as if the bulk of the tax $ was going to subsidize them. Of course there is also the “Food Stamp Program” buried in there. Expect the tears to flow about how children will starve, &tc. (never mind the “School Lunch Program, and local programs that “help” the poor
Report Post »tharpdevenport
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:51pmA million a year for albino squirrel santuaries, about a million and a half for a robot that folds laundery (poorly), schrimp on a treadmill (you can’t make this stuff up), and dog glitter.
Yup, NOT ONE SINGLE GORRAM THING to cut here! Oh my God! It’s all NECESSARY!!!
Report Post »bigdaddyt46
Posted on June 20, 2012 at 5:47amyou forgot a big one. they actually spent over $950,000 on a study does the length of a gay man’s penis affect his social life. yep it‘s necessary too as i won’t be able to sleep at night without knowing that information(shaking my head)
Report Post »freeberty
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:31pmFarmers have been one of the great welfare subsidized classes since the 1920′s, They have no idea what a free market is all about.
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:30amI told you! The mentally ill out number us….only the sane understand.
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:04pmTotally drop the farm bill and other b.s. programs that give money to the corporations. Not only would the U.S. quickly eliminate it’s debt,,,,but taxes could actually go down. But then, it’s about control, right?
Report Post »flipper1073
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:27amIf I hear another Politician say that They Can’t Cut Spending.
Report Post »I‘m going to SCREAM it won’t do any good but it might make me feel better.
Everything should be on the Table. An many things should be
Eliminated not just CUT.
Even the Defense Budget since thats where most of the PORK is Hidden.
Eliminate Whole Departments (Education,Commerce,Transportation,Energy,
Homeland Security,EPA, TSA, most of the other Alphabet Soup Agencies.
I Could cut the Budget in Half but the IDIOTS in Washington DC can’t seem
to SEE any Programs that can even be cut a little bit.
TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY Cut The Damned Spending.
Have a Nice Day
lukerw
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:37amIf we do not want… Corporate or Union Farms… where prices for FOOD are set alike a Monopoly… then we must ensure a Reasonable Support & Profit for Private, only, Farmers… for We All Eat! But, if it is Not FOOD related… then it is a Theft of Public Funds!
Report Post »HKS
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:25amSounds like a petty cash fund for someone. Maybe that’s where Obama gets his stash.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:12am“Taxpayers are subsidizing ” …. ( fill in the blanks )
Report Post »Ron Staiger
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:04amThe Department of Agriculture is one that needs to be severely cut including ALL subsidies
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 9:18amGovernment is not to pick winners and losers, just keep the playing field level.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:40pmDOCROW….I must disagree in one instance,…….as long as there is affirmative action ..then the government DOES pick winners and losers…..depending on skin color.
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