Burgess Owens: “we have just passed the Agriculture Reauthorization Act that reauthorizes farm programs, and I think it is very…”

“we have just passed the Agriculture Reauthorization Act that reauthorizes farm programs, and I think it is very important to take note of an unprecedented development. We had a bipartisan breakthrough of the truth in respect to agricultural subsidies and the agribusiness welfare program in America, and this deserves to be noted. Been a lot of frustration for a long time experienced by those of us who recognize the fact that the agribusiness among all the recipients of Federal subsidies was the one that was most hypocritical. It received great amounts of money for a small number of people, and they made lengthy speeches about getting government off their back and not being a part of a welfare program. So we finally made a breakthrough, I think, in that not any great changes were wrought. The bill that passed has a lot to be desired; the bill that passed is loaded with agribusiness welfare. The bill that passed is not a great reform measure, as it is touted to be. The bill that passed will probably be vetoed by the President. It pleases only segments of the population. Large numbers of the people are displeased with it. But the phenomena that took place on the floor of the House yesterday is what I am rejoicing about. I rejoice that truth broke through and there was a real honest discussion of the nature of the welfare subsidies that have fueled the agribusiness for the last three decades. The truth broke through, and there were very close votes.…”