Agricultural News
Lincoln and Chambliss Agree- Cuts in Obama Farm Program Spending Plan a Bad Idea
Tue, 02 Feb 2010 4:15:54 CSTApparently the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Ag Committee are closer to being on the szme page than the Chairman is with her party's President. Democrat Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas told President "Thanks, but no thanks" for his proposals to cut many agricultural and conservation programs in his Fiscal year 2011 budget. Republican Saxby Chambliss agrees with that assessment. We have statements from both of them below.
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U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry today said she would oppose cuts to programs important to agriculture and rural communities contained in President Obama's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2011.
"Throughout my Senate career, I have been a strong, independent voice for Arkansas's agricultural producers. Now, as Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I am standing up for farmers and ranchers and all of rural America once again by opposing cuts that will harm the hard-working men and women who are the backbone of our rural economy.
"Put simply the President's proposal picks winners and losers. By targeting policies that rural America relies upon, this proposal places a disproportionate burden on the backs of farmers and rural communities. While I too believe we must reduce the federal deficit, we must all share in this responsibility.
"In 2008 I worked hard to pass a five-year farm bill that was fiscally responsible. This bill contained over $4 billion worth of cuts to farm programs, was completely paid for and did not contribute to the deficit. The Farm Bill is a contract with our farmers that they depend on to make business decisions. Changing the rules in the middle of the game would be detrimental to their operations and would cost us even more jobs in rural America.
"I thank the President for his recommendations, but Congress writes the budget. I intend to support measures to reduce the deficit but fight many of the President's proposed cuts that will harm farmers, ranchers and rural communities."
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U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today released the following statement regarding President Obama's proposed fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget request:
"While I commend the President on his effort to reign in government spending, the proposed budget request requires additional work to live up to his promise. I am concerned regarding the level the budget cuts existing operations in order to fund pet initiatives and programs. Before we do that, we need to examine where resources are truly needed. As with last year, the Administration unfairly targets farmers and ranchers to achieve savings and fund Washington based programs.
"I will continue to examine the budget along with my colleagues to ensure we are spending hard earned taxpayer dollars efficiently and effectively. In the weeks and months ahead, we will have to make some hard choices. It is my hope we can produce a budget that mirrors what Americans have to struggle with every day."
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