Obama signs 1.25 billion dollar settlement for Black/American Indian Farmers!

[DFab420]

From TPM

The Pigford II settlement, worth $1.25 billion, will pay claims made by black farmers that they were discriminated against by the Department of Agriculture in the 1980s and 1990s, when the department denied them loans and other assistance. The Cobell settlement, worth $3.4 billion, is for American Indians whose land trusts and oil and gas rights were mismanaged by the federal government, which withheld royalties.

The Pigford settlement was approved by a judge and lawyers for both sides in February, and the Cobell settlement last December. Several attempts over the months to authorize funding for the settlements failed in Congress.

The settlements, paid for with offsets including money from a WIC surplus and from Customs fees, finally passed last month, even amid allegations of widespread fraud from some Republican congressmen. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Attorney General Eric Holder today promised to fight any potential fraud.

Obama has long pressed for the bill's passage.

------------------------
edit for link : http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/obama_signs_settlements_for_black_farmers_american.php


I can't believe Obama is so weak he only got 1.25 billion dollars for these farmers, he obviously only cares about Wall St and is secretly a republican :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[pinto]

1. Good settlement. Thumbsup. (aside) Would you edit in a link?

Thanks.

[KeepItReal]

2. I was wondering how they got this past Sen. Coburn's (R - OK) hold

Sen. Tom Coburn , R-Okla., agreed to the combined settlement package this week, after Senate leaders agreed to offset the spending.

The offsets, however, could prove controversial with poverty advocates. One offset uses surplus money from a nutrition program for women, infants, and children.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1110/112210nj1.htm

[DFab420]

3. Shameless self good news kick

Good news is so hard to keep popular...