FYI Big Country Farmers, Families & Friends: Republican led Congress poised to break contract with rural America !

December 13, 2005
Last modified December 12, 2005 - 11:17 pm

Guest opinion: Congress poised to break contract with rural America
By BROOKS DAILEY
Montana Farmers Union
America's farmers and ranchers thought they had a contract with the federal government. When the 2002 farm bill was negotiated, it was intended to be in place for six years – adequate time for farmers and ranchers to make prudent business plans that they could take to the bank and that lenders could count on.
Recently, however, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed individual budget reconciliation packages that outline budget cuts that place a disproportionate share of the burden on rural America.
When thinking about this issue, one should keep in mind that agriculture spending is less than 1 percent of the federal budget, yet is being asked to shoulder nearly 10 percent of the overall cuts. And the budget cut recommendations come at a time when agricultural producers are suffering skyrocketing energy costs, declining commodity prices and their own weather disasters.
In light of these problems, the need for USDA nutrition and conservation programs has never been greater, but the proposal is to cut these vital programs. In the meantime, Congress still proposes major tax cuts for the nation's wealthy. We believe that reducing or completely eliminating agricultural programs via the reconciliation process breaks the farm bill contract.
American agriculture, not unlike much of the rest of the nation's economy, is facing tremendous challenges, with the most crucial, perhaps, being the potential detrimental action of Congress. A wave of disasters, including the hurricanes of this fall, an ongoing, expensive war, and an out-of-control federal deficit have left Congress looking for a budget fix. And, surprise, the budget makers are looking at rural America to bail them out.
Here at the Montana Farmers Union, and also through our national organization, we have expressed our disappointment and disapproval of these proposed cuts. While we are willing to shoulder our fair share, we believe there are other steps that should be taken first.
We have sent letters to our congressional delegation asking that they oppose budget cuts that are vital to agriculture, conservation, rural and nutrition programs when the final consideration of the FY 2006 budget resumes.
Given that we are entering into a new election cycle, now is the time to make sure our current congressional lineup is truly representing the best interests of Montana. We'll be watching, and hope you will be too.

Brooks Dailey, Montana Farmers Union president, lives in Great Falls and farms north of Chester.
source: http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/12/13/build/opinion/40-guest-op.inc