(*Co's Boondoggle) No Drought Required For Federal Drought Aid (to farmers

[UpInArms]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/17/AR2006071701237_pf.html

CHANDLER, Tex. -- On a clear, cold morning in February 2003, Nico de Boer heard what sounded like a clap of thunder and stepped outside his hillside home for a look. High above the tree line, the 40-year-old dairy farmer saw a trail of smoke curling across the sky -- all that remained of the space shuttle Columbia.

Weeks later, de Boer was startled to learn that he was one of hundreds of East Texas ranchers entitled to up to $40,000 in disaster compensation from the federal government, even though the nearest debris landed 10 to 20 miles from his cattle.

The money came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of the Livestock Compensation Program, originally intended as a limited helping hand for dairy farmers and ranchers hurt by drought. Hurriedly drafted by the Bush administration in 2002 and expanded by Congress the following year, the relief plan rapidly became an expensive part of the government's sprawling system of entitlements for farmers, which topped $25 billion last year.

<snip>

Shortly before the 2002 congressional elections, the Bush administration faced growing pressure from ranchers and politicians in a handful of Western states that were hit hard by drought. Of special political concern to the White House, sources said, was South Dakota, where Republican Rep. John Thune was close to unseating Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson.

<snip>

No state did better than Texas. In the end, all 254 of its counties qualified. Ranchers in counties without droughts collected $45 million in 2003, on top of the $67 million that had flowed to the state in 2002.

...more...

[Erika]

1. The takers paid for by the blue states n/t.

[robinlynne]

2. disgusting.

[madrchsod]

3. we didn`t get jack shit from our congressman--hastert

our district was one of the hardest hit last year in illinois..but the farmers will still vote for the dumb ass

[acmavm]

4. That's one of the biggest laugh that I get from some of the farmer's I

know here in Nebraska. You as any one of them, they will tell you that welfare and any other government program that was designed to help women and the poor is a 'government handout' and that the lazy asses should get up of their couches and find a job.

But if Bobby or Dennis don't get their subsidy check, my goodness.

[cornermouse]

5. Generally speaking,

its aimed at what could be called factory farms/large "farmers"/corporations in disguise. Small farmers haven't been getting much of anything for quite a while now.