Farmers Get Billions in Virus Aid, and Democrats Are Wary.

[Demovictory9]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/07/us/politics/virus-trump-aid-farmers.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

As the administration sends up to $16 billion in additional subsidies, critics are concerned that the funds could be used to ensure that the president maintains the backing of one of his key voting blocs.

WASHINGTON — Cotton farmers were paid 33 times as much in federal subsidies in 2019 as the income they actually lost to trade disruptions, one study showed.

Farmers in Georgia, the home state of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, were paid more in federal aid per acre than anywhere else in the nation, another found.

Some farms collected millions of dollars in payments despite a limit of $250,000 per farmer.

The Trump administration’s $28 billion effort in 2018 and 2019 to compensate farmers for losses from its trade wars has been criticized as excessive, devised on the fly and tilted toward states politically important to Republicans. Now the administration is starting to send farmers tens of billions more to offset losses from the coronavirus pandemic, raising questions about how the money will be allocated and whether there is sufficient oversight to guard against partisan abuse of the program.

Months before an election in which some farm states are major battlegrounds, Democrats and other critics of the administration’s agriculture policies are expressing concern that the new subsidies, provided by Congress with bipartisan backing, could be doled out to ensure President Trump continues to win the backing of one of his key voting blocs.

[Laelth]

1. Doesn't shock me.

Standard graft.

-Laelth

[live love laugh]

2. "Farmers" is misleading. Agri Corporations who will give kickbacks is more like it. nt

[Cha]

3. KR

[scarletwoman]

4. Gawd, the corruption just keeps piling up higher.

[Newest Reality]

5. Cooperation

Cooperation with a Fascist regime because they pay you is not patriotic at all. Of course, even the insinuation of buying votes in any way, shape or form is still illegal, even if a way is found to sidestep that fact.

If they don't understand that they are succumbing to pandering, then they must not be very bright even if they are using high-tech farming gear. However, ignorance is no excuse here. Being a traitor to your country by complying with what is a threat to it comes in many types, but it is still a sellout that smells treasonous no matter what perfume you splash on it.

They can call themselves whatever they want to and pretend this or that, but their actions speak to the rest of us. If they don't realize that resistance is vital now, even though there may be sacrifices, they will find out later how this goes, as it has in several other countries. The playbook is still in effect and down the tubes they go with us all.

[maxrandb]

6. Subsidies, "provided by CONGRESS"

I know it's a tough call, but YOU CAN'T GIVE THESE FUCKSTICKS A DIME

As an "impeached" president, Congress should have mandated a special master, appointed by the House, to oversee the distribution of these funds.

There's not a God Damned thing these pricks won't do. They'd fucking murder blue areas if they could.

When dealing with these Retrumplicans, you need to hire the most despicable mobster you can find. This mobsters job would be to think of the most despicable shit he would do with the funds, then you adjust the legislation to prevent said dispicable thing.

[Rainbow Droid]

7. What? Trump bribed his base and didn't even try to hide it? I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you.

[OneBro]

8. That's not a limit.

If it can be so easily ignored with no accountability or repercussions, that's not a limit, it's a boondoggle.

[oasis]

9. But..but..buying votes is supposed to be illegal?

[roamer65]

10. Cut all agriculture subsidies to ZERO.

[JI7]

11. Aren't these Trump supporters getting a lot of Govt Funds because of their losses over the tariff

issue with China ?

And they are the ones who complain about other people being on welfare or getting any kind of govt assistance.

[2naSalit]

12. And many Congress critters claim to be farmers

and always get paid first so just figure that half of it is going into pockets of republicans and their friends. You know, like Rep. Nunes and his cow.