Farm Program Cuts Opposed by Senators
Letter to Administration says cuts to farm programs sends wrong message to rural America.
Compiled by staff
Published: Mar 17, 2010
U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., a senior member of the Committee, have sent a letter to the President opposing budget cuts to farm programs in a tough economy. The letter was also signed by Senators Thad Cochran, R-Miss., John Thune, R-S.D., James Risch, R-Idaho, Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, and David Vitter, R-La.
In their letter, the Senators wrote that cutting farm programs in the midst of an economic downturn sends the wrong signal to rural America. While we agree that fiscal restraint is necessary and spending in the Federal budget should be reduced, doing so in this manner places a disproportionate burden on the backs of farmers, ranchers and rural communities and fails to recognize the recent sacrifices these constituencies made to expand nutrition programs during the reauthorization of the 2008 Farm Bill.
According to the Senators, the Farm Bill represents a commitment to our rural communities and we have an obligation to fulfill our obligations to our farmers and ranchers who depend on this legislation to make business decisions. They concluded: We look forward to working with you on reining in government spending, reviewing the budget at the Department of Agriculture and retaining the commitments the Federal government has made to rural and urban communities alike.
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Tagged: farm, farm bill
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