Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, my grandparents were farmers. I represent farmers in east Tennessee. Those same farmers continue to support me even though I voted against the farm bill last year. Why? Because I do not think we can really have reform until we eliminate price supports and subsidies. These farmers that support me are not in favor of price supports or subsidies. They are in favor of being left alone to do their work, whether it is peanuts, sugar, tobacco. I agree, why not all of them? Why do we not eliminate all the subsidies? It does not make any sense. After all, the people of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union were willing to risk their lives to have what we not only take for granted but abuse, and that is the free market. We cannot continue to beat up on the free market with price supports and subsidies and have consumers pay higher prices for things because the Government is involved where the Government should not be involved. A pure pro-farm vote is leave the farmers alone and pull the government out of the farm business.”