Agricultural News
Coburn, Stabenow Debate Amendment to Reduce Funding for Market Access Program
Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:41:58 CDT
Senator Tom Coburn squared off in debate against Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow over an amendment Coburn had offered to the Senate's version of the 2012 Farm Bill.
Coburn introduced Amendment 2289 which would reduce funding for the Market Access Program by 20 percent. The amendment also specifically prohibited the expenditure of funds for reality television shows, cat or dog food, wine tastings, and animal spa products.
In a rare show of solidarity with President Barrack Obama, Coburn said his amendment supported goals outlined by the administration.
"This amendment falls in line with what the recommendation of the administration is as well as every outside group that's ever looked at this program. The Department of Agriculture has five Marketing Access Programs, this is just one of them. The administration recommended a 20 percent reduction. We have put forward an amendment to reduce it by 20 percent," Coburn said.
Coburn also said the market access programs are not having their desired effect.
"We spend $2 billion dollars over the next ten years on market access. American contribution to total world agricultural products is on the decline in spite of these programs. And the waste in these programs, if you actually look where the money's spent, is unbelievable."
Stabenow took exception with Coburn's characterization of the market access programs as failures.
"The reality is for us that American agricultural exports are the only real area where we have a surplus right now and we want to continue that. The current program that the Senator is speaking about is all about exports. It's all about jobs. For every dollar invested in this particular market access program, $35 is generated back in economic activity. I think that's a pretty good investment."
Coburn countered Stabenow's assertion with an illustration of the waste he sees embodied by the program.
"I would assume by the chairman's response that she supports the $20 million that went into a reality TV show in India to purchase cotton other than made in the United States. That's where 20 million of it went. That's what's wrong with this program. I'm not objecting to the fact that we ought to have market access programs, but when we're wasting $20 million on something that has no connection whatsoever with American agricultural products, we ought to vote to reduce it."
Stabenow said she was unaware of the subsidy for the Indian reality TV show, but she urged a 'no' vote on the amendment.
Amendment 2289 ultimately failed on a 30 to 69 vote.
You can hear the exchange between Senator Tom Coburn and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow by clicking the LISTEN BAR below.
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