News
It is a shame Congress will adjourn for the year without addressing responsible agricultural drought relief, according to U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn.
“I don’t think we should adjourn without it. It’s a way to solve some needs,” the Oklahoma Republican said during a conference call Thursday.
Coburn tried to block a $4.5 billion drought aid bill by Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., saying it was too costly and rewarded farmers who did not purchase federal crop insurance. He praised a $3.3 billion relief bill written by U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., saying it is a good bill and will save more than a billion dollars and address critical needs to Oklahoma farmers. Coburn said there are legitimate ways to pay for drought aid, but no one in the Senate has the courage to do the right thing and stay in session to help people who really need it.
Conrad’s bill passed the Senate earlier this week, but Congress is expected to recess today for the year.
Coburn criticized Conrad’s bill because he said it would assist people who did not buy federal crop insurance, saying the crop insurance program never will work if people do not take it and receive assistance anyway.
“We need to pay for it, and it be a prudent bill. You can’t tell people they get bailed out and not have to buy crop insurance,” Coburn said.
During his conference call, Coburn touched on a number of other topics, including:
Iraq
The report by Iraq Study Group, Coburn said, is a great thing that will bring attention to some issues. However, he said, if the group’s intention is to get U.S. troops out of Iraq, we already have lost the war on terror.
“You have to understand the long-range implications through the perspective of history. We didn’t pay attention to what Hitler and Mussolini had to say in the 1930s, and we weren’t prepared for it. People have told us they want to destroy the West. We should believe them,” he said.
He said there is no question the war in Iraq has not gone well and mistakes have been made. But, he said, if the goal is to win, Americans must rethink the easy tendency to run away because it is tough.
“I have battled cancer twice in my life. The easy thing to do is give in. The hard thing is not to give in,” he said. “The hard thing for the future is if we do what is necessary, we will secure great benefits from it.”
Iran
Iran is developing a nuclear weapon, and with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as its ruler, the situation is particularly dangerous, Coburn said.
He is concerned Ameri-can officials will turn into copies of Neville Cham-berlain, the British prime minister who sought to appease Hitler before World War II. Coburn said he fears the situation in Iran will get worse.
Congress
Coburn said he opposes the plethora of last-minute bills that try to increase spending by not giving members of Congress time to read them.
“I won’t let anything go through that isn’t properly vetted,” he said.
He is working with Democratic senators Joe Lieberman and Barack Obama to reduce waste and abuse in government. He criticized the way federal funding to New Orleans for hurricane relief has been spent. Many of the projects were not properly bid, he said, and others did not do what they were supposed to do. Coburn said blame rests as much with the White House as with Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Farm bill
Coburn said U.S. farm policy has a lot to do with global trade. The new farm bill to be created next year will impact agriculture as well as other trade agreements. Commodity prices look good in the next few years, he said, especially with the switch to biofuels. If wheat farmers had a good year this year, they would be “sitting pretty,” he said. However, they did not.
“We need to take a good look at the farm bill. Too many farmers are undercapitalized, and we will pay billions in subsidies. I would rather pay directly to the farmer so they can get their capital up,” he said.
Too often, Coburn said, the richest farmers with less need are capturing program money. Most farmers, Coburn said, would rather not be dependent on the government; however, that is not the case because of international trade agreements.
“I don’t think we should adjourn without it. It’s a way to solve some needs,” the Oklahoma Republican said during a conference call Thursday.
Coburn tried to block a $4.5 billion drought aid bill by Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., saying it was too costly and rewarded farmers who did not purchase federal crop insurance. He praised a $3.3 billion relief bill written by U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., saying it is a good bill and will save more than a billion dollars and address critical needs to Oklahoma farmers. Coburn said there are legitimate ways to pay for drought aid, but no one in the Senate has the courage to do the right thing and stay in session to help people who really need it.
Conrad’s bill passed the Senate earlier this week, but Congress is expected to recess today for the year.
Coburn criticized Conrad’s bill because he said it would assist people who did not buy federal crop insurance, saying the crop insurance program never will work if people do not take it and receive assistance anyway.
“We need to pay for it, and it be a prudent bill. You can’t tell people they get bailed out and not have to buy crop insurance,” Coburn said.
During his conference call, Coburn touched on a number of other topics, including:
Iraq
The report by Iraq Study Group, Coburn said, is a great thing that will bring attention to some issues. However, he said, if the group’s intention is to get U.S. troops out of Iraq, we already have lost the war on terror.
“You have to understand the long-range implications through the perspective of history. We didn’t pay attention to what Hitler and Mussolini had to say in the 1930s, and we weren’t prepared for it. People have told us they want to destroy the West. We should believe them,” he said.
He said there is no question the war in Iraq has not gone well and mistakes have been made. But, he said, if the goal is to win, Americans must rethink the easy tendency to run away because it is tough.
“I have battled cancer twice in my life. The easy thing to do is give in. The hard thing is not to give in,” he said. “The hard thing for the future is if we do what is necessary, we will secure great benefits from it.”
Iran
Iran is developing a nuclear weapon, and with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as its ruler, the situation is particularly dangerous, Coburn said.
He is concerned Ameri-can officials will turn into copies of Neville Cham-berlain, the British prime minister who sought to appease Hitler before World War II. Coburn said he fears the situation in Iran will get worse.
Congress
Coburn said he opposes the plethora of last-minute bills that try to increase spending by not giving members of Congress time to read them.
“I won’t let anything go through that isn’t properly vetted,” he said.
He is working with Democratic senators Joe Lieberman and Barack Obama to reduce waste and abuse in government. He criticized the way federal funding to New Orleans for hurricane relief has been spent. Many of the projects were not properly bid, he said, and others did not do what they were supposed to do. Coburn said blame rests as much with the White House as with Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Farm bill
Coburn said U.S. farm policy has a lot to do with global trade. The new farm bill to be created next year will impact agriculture as well as other trade agreements. Commodity prices look good in the next few years, he said, especially with the switch to biofuels. If wheat farmers had a good year this year, they would be “sitting pretty,” he said. However, they did not.
“We need to take a good look at the farm bill. Too many farmers are undercapitalized, and we will pay billions in subsidies. I would rather pay directly to the farmer so they can get their capital up,” he said.
Too often, Coburn said, the richest farmers with less need are capturing program money. Most farmers, Coburn said, would rather not be dependent on the government; however, that is not the case because of international trade agreements.
