President Bush's Broken Promises to Farmers (DNC Release)

[MaineDem]

For Immediate Release
July 28, 2005

Contact: Josh Earnest - 202-863-8148

President Bush's Broken Promises to Farmers

Washington, DC - With President Bush sitting down today for a photo op
with members of the FFA, formerly known as the Future Farmers of
America, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean called on
the President to reverse his policies that hurt family farmers across
America:

"President Bush's budget cuts have been devastating to family
ranchers and farmers across the country. The President can pose for
pictures with as many agricultural groups as he wants, but America's
farmers know that his policies have made it more difficult for family
farmers to stay in business. When President Bush sits down with the next
generation of farmers and agricultural professionals, he should join the
Democratic effort to restore vital funding for those who work the earth
for their livelihood each day."

The Republican Budget Neglects Rural America
Bush Proposal Slashes Agriculture Funding. The President's budget cuts
agriculture funding by nearly 10 percent next year. Working Group, 3/15/05]

Bush Plan Devastating for Agricultural Research. The Bush
Administration has proposed to phase out $200 million in funding for
agriculture, forestry and animal health research programs over two
years, and replace it with about $70 million in competitive grants. This
would affect 75 land-grant colleges and universities across the country,
resulting in an estimated 2,000 job losses and fewer agriculture
research projects.

Bush Proposed Cutting Crop Insurance Program. The proposed budget also
cuts $1.3 billion from the federal crop insurance program, which
protects farmers against risks caused by natural disasters and price
fluctuations.

Proposed Inspection Fees Would Cost Farmers Billions. The budget raises
another $1.9 billion through increased user fees for inspections that
will further reduce farm income. 3/15/05]
Bush Budget Cuts Marketing Loans. The budget includes a net cut of $5.7
billion over 10 years from farm programs through restrictions on
marketing loans, a 5 percent reduction in farm program payments,
assessments on sugar, and modifications to the dairy program.

Proposals Would Cut Deficiency Payments. The President's budget
proposes to limit loan deficiency payments by more than $1 billion,
which could drop deficiency payments for as much as 48 percent of corn
in Iowa, for example.

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www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any
candidate or candidate's committee.

[coloradodem2005]

1. The farmers wanted him. They got him.

:eyes:

[gizmo1979]

2. Amen

[SpiralHawk]

3. This is an ISSUE the Dems can make hay with

People know the farm scene is totally screwed up, and the food is crap.

Farms and farmers are the foundation of our civilization. They are real, and important, and will be real and important no matter what the hell else happens in the world.

I would put together a strong and progressive and ecologically sustainable Farm Plank and beat the drums around it.

Common sense, anyone?