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Grassley concerned over Obama’s cuts
Senator Charles Grassley is concerned about farm spending cuts proposed as part of President Obama’s $3 trillion deficit reduction recommendations to the bipartisan congressional “super committee.” The Iowa GOP lawmaker says the cuts hit agriculture at a time of weather woes not seen in many years.
Senator Grassley said Tuesday, however, that this can be viewed as an opportunity for the Senate Agriculture Committee to have input in the deficit reduction process.
“I think that we can put our stamp of approval on something and give it to the super committee,” said Senator Grassley, during a conference call. “Now, they can ignore it, but I don’t think they’d be too smart in ignoring it as long we’re helping them get to their [savings] goal.”
The recommendation includes $33 billion in cuts from the farm safety net and $3 billion dollars worth of cuts in direct support payments. But Grassley is also concerned about proposed cuts to crop insurance premium subsidies.
“There are certain behaviors that the federal government can promote among farmers through crop insurance,” said Grassley. “So is it better to have farmers participate ahead of time including some of their own money and have risk management, or is it better for them to be beholden to whims of Congress?”
Crop insurance reforms include lowering crop insurance companies’ rate of return; capping administrative expenses; and better pricing of the premium for catastrophic coverage policies.
Ha ha ha ha ha – hey Obama when you take away the price supports they won’t be grossing $100,000 per year any more & the gross will drop as will the net….(net is what is left over after paying all the bills, something I don’t think you know about) then when the farmers start going out of business you will have that usual deer in the headlights look because you went and tinkered with that too….