Thomas Mott Osborne: “I would like to discuss the general perception of the farm bill that was passed in May, the Farm Security and Rural…”

“I would like to discuss the general perception of the farm bill that was passed in May, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act. It has been very interesting as we have watched what has gone on around the country, particularly in the urban areas, particularly areas of both coasts here in Washington. The farm bill has been labeled as obscene. It has been labeled as fat. It has been labeled as pork, et cetera. I would like to read just three quotes from leading newspapers that pretty much express the general sentiments that we have been hearing. This was from the Las Vegas Review Journal. The headline was ``Farm Welfare,'' and the body of the article said this: ``The House voted to slide backwards some 70 years, choosing socialism and abandoning market-based reforms in the Nation's Stalinesque farm policy in voting for the new farm bill.'' Those are very strong words, that we decided to slide back 70 years, chose socialism and Stalinesque policy.”