Sen. Cornyn (TX) on the Farm Bill

Open Email to Sen. Cornyn (TX):

Sen. Cornyn,
    Thank you for your form letter on the Farm Bill.
    You said you did not vote for the Senate version, because it unnecessarily held support for farmers and ranchers hostage to the unchecked growth of food stamp entitlements and other non-farming programs, costing 60 percent more than the last authorization, in 2008.
    Congratulations for voting against it.
    You also said It failed to provide farmers a true safety net in difficult years, failed to fully target assistance to those most in need, and failed to prioritize farm aid over duplicative programs, subsidizing unrelated issues from green energy to housing.  It is shameful that Washington was unable to responsibly address the true needs of American farmers..
    It is at that point where we have a strong difference of opinion. Farming is a business, clear and simple. It is not up to the federal taxpayers to supply a safety net for farmers in difficult years and target assistance for those most in need. Economic difficulties in years of drought or other adverse weather conditions can be alleviated by insurance, which should be paid by farmers as a cost of doing business. Those most in need likely do not need assistance. The implication is that they are incompetent businessmen, and should leave the business to those more able to make it work. There obviously should be no duplicative programs, when we should not even have initial programs.        Any farm bill should be stripped down to its bare essentials, which involves essentially no taxpayer subsidization of any kind, but consideration made for public protection against famine. The inclusion of issues on green energy and housing is particularly ridiculous. It smacks of Congress at its worst, which is payola for subsequent votes to remain in office.