TPA Joins Coalition Urging Crop Insurance Reform in Agriculture Appropriations Bill

The appropriations process is moving fast in Washington, DC with several pieces of legislation being voted on over the next few weeks. There are important amendments being submitted by members of Congress who are doing their part to protect taxpayers and in H.R. 4800, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2015, there are two amendments that TPA felt needed the support of members of Congress. That’s why today, in an effort led by the R Street Institute, TPA joined with Americans for Tax Reform, Campaign for Liberty, Center for Individual Freedom, ConservAmerica, Cost of Government Center, Less Government, and National Taxpayers Union sending a letter urging support two amendments that are aimed at reforming the wasteful, costly and inefficient Crop Insurance program. These two amendments would bring us that much closer to the goals of transparency and accountability that are imperative when taxpayer money is being spent.

Read the full letter below:

June 11, 2014

An Open Letter to the United States Congress:

Support Amendments to Reform Crop Insurance

Dear Representative,

On behalf of the millions of members of the undersigned organizations, we urge your support for two key amendments to H.R. 4800, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2015.

First, we encourage all members to vote in favor of Rep. DeLauro’s amendment to prohibit funding for outreach and education regarding federal crop insurance supports to farms with an adjusted gross income above $250,000. The federal crop insurance program serves as the main support for most farmers, and the recent farm bill expands its scope even further. Without proper controls, it will be an unjustifiable burden for taxpayers while primarily benefitting a small number of wealthy agribusinesses, which should bear more of their business risk themselves given mounting concerns about the size of our federal budget.

The House is already on record in favor of limiting crop insurance subsidies for wealthy farmers. During the recent farm bill process, a Sense of the House passed in favor of reducing premium support for those with an adjusted gross income above $750,000. Thus, simply limiting education and outreach to those with an AGI above $250,000 should be an easy vote for those who supported the much more stringent measure in late 2013. We urge you to take this step and limit the advertisement of subsidies to the richest Americans and their businesses.

Second, we hope all members will support an amendment from Reps. Kind, Petri, Sanford, Polis, Speier, and Duncan defunding USDA’s concealment of recipients of crop insurance premium support. Given that 26 farm businesses receive more than $1 million in premium support alone, it is simply unacceptable that taxpayers are unable to see who benefits from their support.

Reforming our nation’s farm programs to ensure fiscal responsibility and accountability should be a high priority for all members. We urge you to take this opportunity and make important changes toward that goal by voting yes on these amendments.

Sincerely,

Lori Sanders, R Street Institute

Mattie Duppler, Cost of Government Center

Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform

Seton Motley, Less Government

Norm Singleton, Campaign for Liberty

Pete Sepp, National Taxpayers Union

Jeff Mazzella, Center for Individual Freedom

David Williams, Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Rob Sisson, ConservAmerica