The Swine Line

As if complaining about the $5.2 billion in direct subsidy payments to millionaire farmers and $3.8 billion in disaster aid that will ultimately hurt taxpayers and the environment wasn’t enough, at the very last minute Congress added more than $2 billion in earmarks to the Farm Bill.

The complete list is here (Farm Bill Earmarks), but let me list a few of my personal favorites, that somehow didn’t make the list:

-$500 million for the Qualified Forestry Bonds Program.  This program was added to the Farm Bill to benefit one company, the Plum Creek Timber Company.

-$170 million for distressed salmon fishermen in California, Oregon and Washington.  Maybe they just need a good therapist.

-The Equine Equity Act.  According to Sen. McConnell (R-Ky.), “My legislation will remove the unfair tax burden on horses that discourage investment in the horse industry.”

There you have it.   A Congress riddled with scandal still thinks it is accepatble to earmark money for dubious projects.