Randy Neugebauer: “I think before I go down and list some of the reform that is being considered in this current farm bill, I think we have…”

“I think before I go down and list some of the reform that is being considered in this current farm bill, I think we have to step back and look at what has transpired with the 2002 farm bill. The 2002 farm bill actually cost $25 billion less than what it was originally projected to cost. Let me repeat that. This is a Federal program that actually came in $25 billion less than what it was budgeted. I would ask my friend from Arizona; name me another mandatory program in the last 5 years that has come in under what was originally projected. Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office projection for what farm policy will cost has imposed for the baseline going forward a $60 billion reduction over what was originally planned in 2002. The reason that that reduction is in place and the reason that this bill came in $25 billion less than what it was projected is because it was working the way it was supposed to.”