Political Quotes

“I am supporting the Solomon amendment because it is the only opportunity to vote on a balanced budget this year. I am disappointed that the Rules Committee would not allow an open rule so that we could consider changes to these proposals. I disagree with several cuts in this substitute. In particular, I am in very strong disagreement with the language in the Solomon proposal that does away with essentially all farm programs starting next year. We do need to move to Federal farm policy that allows farmers to get reasonable prices at the marketplace. However, this needs to be a gradual adjustment to assure that we continue the high quality of food and fiber that's available at the lowest prices in the world. Hard working farmers, abundant natural resources, world-class research and extension, and the free enterprise system have made the United States the largest and most efficient producer of food and fiber in the world. As a result, Americans spend just 12 percent of their disposable income on food, the lowest in the world. The average farmer in 1960 fed 16 people. Today that farmer feeds 96, with even greater nutrition and quality. The fact is that if we want to have a stable supply of food and fiber in this country, a farmer cannot stay in business and sell below his cost of production. Farm programs have been an inefficient way to make adjustments and need to be drastically modified, but cannot be totally eliminated as suggested by Solomon.”