Mike Conaway: “I want to make a couple of quick points. The ranking member, the former chairman of the Ag Committee, made a good point…”

“I want to make a couple of quick points. The ranking member, the former chairman of the Ag Committee, made a good point, which is the percentages that get bandied about in this regard that seem to make the arguments a little more inflammatory are based on a skewed definition. You don't live on a farm that makes only $1,000 of gross revenue. That's not a farmer who's in the business of farming, and that's who these Ag support safety nets should support. I would like to make one comment about why the Ag Committee is the one that ought to be making these kinds of things. If you will read the gentleman's amendment, it says, ``to a person, legal entity, if the average adjusted gross income of the person or legal entity is $250,000.'' Average of what, Madam Chairman? Average of 1 year? Average of 5 years? Average of a lifetime? Average of what? And so a poorly crafted amendment--I know the gentleman is working in good faith, he has been at this for a long time, I don't have any problem with that, but this is an example of a hastily drawn, poorly drafted amendment that is unenforceable in effect and it skews up. So in addition to all the other things we have said about letting the Ag Committee do it, here's a good example of why. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.”