Thread: Iraq bill packed with aid for farmers

Why do they need an AgJobs Bill? Seems to me the Dems are trying to sneak enough legislation into other Bills to carry farmers and their illegal labor without it? They do carry crop loss insurance too! And they tuck it in a Bill that's supposed to be funding our troops!

Iraq bill packed with aid for farmers
By Michael Doyle / Bee Washington Bureau
03/15/07 11:30:23

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WASHINGTON - California farmers would get millions of dollars under a controversial Iraq War funding bill approved Thursday by a key committee.

Sweetening the pot for rural lawmakers, Democratic leaders packed more than $3.5 billion in emergency aid for farmers into the Iraq bill. There is money for spinach growers, dairy farmers, the San Joaquin Valley citrus industry and West Coast salmon fishermen, among others.

But while the money may relieve farmers, it roils Republican skeptics. It could also put some Valley lawmakers in a bind.

"What does a bailout for spinach producers…have to do with the global war on terror?" Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, asked Thursday morning.

The Capitol Hill answer is: Maybe everything.

Lewis is the senior GOP member, and former chairman, of the House Appropriations Committee. The powerful panel spent hours Thursday debating and ultimately approving the $124.1 billion bill that's now the centerpiece of the Iraq War debate. Most significantly, the so-called Iraq supplemental bill sets the stage for withdrawal of U.S. forces if the Iraq government fails to meet certain performance benchmarks.

The bill provides roughly $100 billion sought by President Bush to fund the continuing U.S. military occupation of Iraq. Democrats also folded in domestic priorities, ranging from a $2.10 rise in the minimum wage to agricultural goodies that include:

* $1.8 billion in crop disaster assistance payments nationwide. San Joaquin Valley citrus producers whose orchards were damaged in a bad January freeze could get some of this money.
* $25 million for California spinach growers who lost money when they recalled shipments following an e. coli contamination scare last fall.
* $60 million for salmon fishermen who lost business when officials shut down most of the commercial fishing season off the Oregon and Northern California coasts last summer.
* $1.4 billion for livestock producers and $283 million for dairy producers.

"It can affect how people vote," Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Antioch, acknowledged in an interview taped for C-SPAN when asked about the additional spending items.

Lewis was harsher, declaring that lawmakers should not "abandon our principle and the troops in the field for the promise of pork back in our districts." Nonetheless, the House Appropriations Committee approved the package by a largely party line 37-27 vote, and rejected an amendment to strip out the spinach funding.

"It's easy to make fun of spinach," said Rep. Sam Farr, D-Monterey, "but if we had eaten more of it, we would be a lot stronger society."

The House is expected to take up the package next week.

http://www.fresnobee.com/406/story/35511.html

I am sorry, if any of you on Alipac are farmers, I have lost my respect for farmers as they do not care what happens to our country as long as they can get all the cheap labor they want, I say build machines to do those jobs, it would most assurdely be better for our country, most of us would be willing to pay double or whatever just to have our country back.

Originally Posted by nittygritty

I am sorry, if any of you on Alipac are farmers, I have lost my respect for farmers as they do not care what happens to our country as long as they can get all the cheap labor they want, I say build machines to do those jobs, it would most assurdely be better for our country, most of us would be willing to pay double or whatever just to have our country back.

Exactly!

* $25 million for California spinach growers who lost money when they recalled shipments following an e. coli contamination scare last fall.

great! they poison our food supply and get government money... from US!

DITTO!!

Alot of this money is going to illegals that were put out of work because of the freeze, Why weren't they sent home???

The farmers in Idaho are mad at our wonderful Senator Crapo for not supporting the AgJobs Bill, but they have the gutless Senator Craig in their pockets.

SOSADFORUS, did you see he's co-sponsoring the Dream Act, too???

Originally Posted by olivermyboy

The farmers in Idaho are mad at our wonderful Senator Crapo for not supporting the AgJobs Bill, but they have the gutless Senator Craig in their pockets.

SOSADFORUS, did you see he's co-sponsoring the Dream Act, too???

Good, Crapo doesn't need friends like them!!traitors!!

No I did not know Craig co-sponsored the Dream Act double traitor!! Now I have to fax and call again, the man is creating alot of head aches for me.

If these bills pass we will have to work really hard to get him out of office in 2008, revenge is sweet!!!! maybe we will have to do it any way just on
matter of principle, and because we just can't trust the man!!

Different party majority, but the same old Congress!

And to think, there were actually those who thought things would be better under a Democrat majority. Occasionally the players change, but the game remains the same.

"What does a bailout for spinach producers…have to do with the global war on terror?" Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, asked Thursday morning.

That's what I want to know! This is a very slick way to pass bills. It's downright sneaky. Why are we giving millions of dollars to farmers, which have nothing to do with the Iraq war? Is this part of a plan to increase insurance coverage for ecoli tainted produce?

CV!!!

This is an outstanding catch!!!

Hot damn............thank you