Farm Bill Revisited
In today’s New York Times David Brook’s commented the on the presidential candidates, the recent passage of the Farm Bill, and ethanol subsidy policies.
“Obama’s vote may help him win Iowa, but it will lead to higher global food prices and more hunger in Africa. Moreover, it raises questions about how exactly he expects to bring about the change that he promises. [. . .]
John McCain opposed the farm bill. In an impassioned speech on Monday, he declared: ‘It would be hard to find any single bill that better sums up why so many Americans in both parties are so disappointed in the conduct of their government, and at times so disgusted by it.’”
ONE advocated for two amendments to the Farm Bill to reduce wasteful subsidies that put impoverished farmers at a disadvantage. For the 1st, Lugar-Lautenberg, all three major candidates missed the vote. For the 2nd, Grassly-Dorgan, Clinton and Obama voted for it while McCain missed the vote.
I did some research to verify Brook’s claims and while he simplified the issues it is true that Obama has been a pandered on corn ethanol for a long time, but recently admitted that maybe we need to change direction. McCain has been a long-standing opponent of corporate welfare in general, including ethanol subsidies, even according to the opposition party.
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