Interesting study about why Repubs in the House pushed for and passed the Farm Subsidies Bill -- 195 billion for 10 years -- in the House while gutting Food Stamp funding (for now). They even added a new shallow loss income entitlement program, tossing in new protections for sugar production and ensuring that price supports for crops don’t sunset in 2018. - So, why are lawmakers so willing to vote for farm subsidies — even lawmakers who usually oppose government spending? After all, only a small fraction of the U.S. population even own farms anymore. - One theory is that money explains it all. Wealthy agribusinesses are somehow paying off Republicans to vote their way. “Republicans demonstrated that they are just fine with bloated welfare programs as long as those welfare payments go to well-heeled special interests,” wrote Michael Tanner of Cato. Over at the Atlantic, Derek Thompson proffered a similar theory, citing research showing that lawmakers are more likely to favor the rich. - But In a recent working paper, Duke University economist Marc Bellemare and political scientist Nicholas Carnes came up with a better reason for Congress’s ag-subsidy love. Farmers and farm owners have DISPROPORTIONATE political sway in key districts.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:01:45 +0000
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