While the majority of American farmers receive no government money at all, at least 23 current members of congress or their families have received government money for their farms -- combining for more than $12 million since 1995 according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group. [...]Yet they don't seem to be on the Tea Party hit list and only one of the recipients was willing to unequivocally state he would abolish them altogether.
In 2009 alone, government farm subsidies totaled more than $16 billion. They totaled almost a quarter of a trillion dollars over the last 15 years.
It's far from a complete list, but SoBeale gives us the lowdown on her state's TP beneficiary and reminds me that Michelle Bachmann is also on that list.
This subsidy program ceased being a safety net for small farmers long ago. In fact, the bulk of agricultural subsidies go to corporations and many receive money who are not even actually farming the land. Indeed, even George Bush tried to eliminate them, but the "fiscally concerned" Congresscreatures of the corn belt block won't let them go. Guessing the 10% who collect 74% of the subsidies are big campaign funders.
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