The Big Gummint Gambit, Farm Bill Edition

OK, so the "Farm" bill is up in the Senate.

Today, the Senate will invoke cloture on the 5-year farm bill, S. 954.  The 1150-page Senate bill costs $955 billion over 10 years and creates a new shallow loss program covering up to 90% of a farmer’s income – on the taxpayer dime.  Roughly 80% of the cost is related to food stamps.  For good measure, this bill contains sugar subsidies, biofuels subsidies, and conservation programs.  This mega-bill was rushed through the committee process and has only been subject to four amendments on the floor....

The red-highlight is very important.

See, the actual "farm" provisions--many of which are very questionable, indeed--are only about $125 billion over 10 years.

The BIG spend is on food stamps--also somewhat questionable.  But without the food stamps, the actual "farm" portion might never get passed in its current form.  (Sugar market-fixing, anyone??)

So the "farm" bill is assembled to force it through, and preserve Big Gummint for another few years.

Nice trick, eh?  Too bad you have to pay for it.