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Political Notebook: Lincoln takes heat for subsidy support Sunday, Dec 16, 2007 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - A former governor now running for president wasn't the only Arkansas politician to face national criticism this week. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., was slammed by editors of The Washington Post on Friday for her intense support of government aid to farmers. Lincoln fought to derail an amendment to the Farm Bill that would have reduced payment limits on subsidies from $360,000 per married couple annually to $250,000. The amendment had the support of the majority of senators, but needed 60 votes to pass in the 100-member chamber. It failed 56-43. "Now Ms. Lincoln has something to crow about on her next trip to the cotton and rice fields of Arkansas," the Post said. "But for a Democratic Party ostensibly committed to fiscal discipline, majority rule and economic equality, this episode is a major embarrassment." Lincoln said farm subsidies offset high production costs of crops like cotton and rice. Reducing government payments would cripple Arkansas farmers and jeopardize the country's safe and affordable food supply, she said. "I don't mind getting slammed when I'm working hard for people in Arkansas," Lincoln said Friday. "Quite frankly, the people that are trying to present that as an issue anyway are never going to be happy until you completely eliminate a safety net for farmers in this country," she added. "Clearly they don't think that government has a role to ensure that safe and affordable supply of food." The editorial criticized Lincoln for not mentioning that 26 Arkansas farms received more than $250,000 in subsidies in 2005. Among subsidy recipients is the Arkansas Department of Correction. An online database compiled by the Environmental Working Group showed the Department of Correction reaped $2.28 million in total federal farm benefits from 2003 to 2005. "Federal subsidies to a state plantation worked by prisoners who don't get paid; now that's enterprising," the editorial stated. State prisons spokeswoman Dina Tyler said the Department of Correction owns 27,000 acres of farm land. "Arkansas is not a rich state and our farm has helped make the cost of running a prison system a little easier to take," Tyler said. "We do our very best to try to take care of any funding source that we can find, whether a grant or subsidy or whatever, trying to keep the cost down because we aren't blessed with deep pockets." Pool safety bill passes The Senate approved legislation by Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., toughening safety rules for manufacturers of swimming pool drain covers. The bill prohibits production or distribution of drain covers where high powered suction could trap children. Some pool drain manufacturers do not follow the now-voluntary guidelines, Pryor said. Pryor has pushed for the bill since last year, when experts testified at a Senate hearing that problem drains are a major cause of injuries and deaths in pools. Possible solutions include raising the drain covers or installing more drains to reduce suction power. The legislation, called the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, is named after the 7-year-old granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker. She died in 2002 because of suction entrapment. Richardson OK with Delta funding Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson announced last week he would support a dramatic increase in annual budget for the federally funded Delta Regional Authority. Richardson, New Mexico's governor, became the second presidential candidate to support a $30 million-per-year appropriation for the agency. Republican Mike Huckabee endorsed the increase two weeks ago. The Delta Regional Authority funds grants and economic development programs in the 240-county Delta region. The Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus, a private advocacy group, asked all major presidential candidates to commit to a budget increase for the agency whose current annual funding is $12 million. "When I am president, the Delta Regional Authority will have the full funding it requires," Richardson said. "I will give the authority full sub-cabinet status and I will demand regular and direct briefings from the DRA's chairman on the status of development programs." Richardson trails in early polls behind Democratic front-runners Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards. Richardson's campaign manager in Arkansas is former state Sen. Kevin Smith of Helena-West Helena. Smith is a member of the Delta caucus' executive committee. |
