Political Quotes

“This farm bill spends many billions supporting our farmers, but it does too little to assist rural communities where farm families live and raise their families. We are asking for a crumb from the table, Mr. Chairman, $100 million out of a $50 billion pot of money; less than 2 percent. A crumb for rural America. Not a whole cookie, not a slice of the pie, just a crumb. Who lives in rural America today? A lot of ex-farmers. The majority of people living in rural farm towns are not farmers. A lot of ex-farmers, a lot of ex-oil workers. A lot of ex-miners as our mines have been closed. A lot of ex-loggers as our forests are locked up from logging. A lot of ex-manufacturers, as small manufacturing plants have left, too often, small rural communities. A lot of ex-utility employees. My gas companies come now, I am from Pennsylvania, from New York, and all of the staff and all of the support offices from out of New York State. Very few of them come from my area.”