Heritage Foundation
Harry Reid’s Ploy to Plow Through the Farm Bill
By Rachael Slobodien
June 6, 2013 

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote this morning on a measure that will effectively end debate on the misnamed “farm” bill, cutting off opportunities to fix the deeply flawed legislation. 

At a cost of a nearly $1 trillion — 80 percent of which goes to the food-stamp program — American taxpayers deserve a robust debate. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) won’t let that happen. 

This isn’t the first time Reid has pulled this stunt. His iron-fisted approach to running the Senate is one reason Americans hold Washington in such low regard and have a strong distrust of politicians. Reid’s obstructionist move marginalizes the opposition by refusing to allow amendments to be considered. 

By muzzling reformers, Reid is also demonstrating a blatant disregard for the Senate’s deliberative nature — one that should welcome an open and hearty debate on a 1,150-page bill that would cost taxpayers $955 billion. Reid’s sense of urgency isn’t too surprising, though, considering members of the Senate Agriculture Committee dispensed of the bill in a mere three hours. 

Reid’s need for speed certainly fits well into another problem plaguing Congress — a lack of transparency and accountability. By steamrolling the process, Reid is hoping to avoid problems rampant in the bill itself. For example, in its current form, the bill allows the food-stamp program to continue along as if its costs had not skyrocketed. The legislation also contains new and expensive farm programs that would attempt to eliminate almost all risk for farmers — even minor losses would be covered courtesy of taxpayers. 

Reformers have ideas for fixing this behemoth of a bill. 

Read the rest of the article at the Heritage Foundation