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This farm bill is a piece of legislation that passes through the House of Representatives on a yearly basis. Inside the Beltway they call this a yearly authorization bill. The people ‘in the know’, known it as ‘housekeeping’ legislation. For decades this farm authorization act has passed the House of Representatives, and the United States Senate, and gone to be signed by the President of the United States without notice mention or problem. Hence, the name of ‘housekeeping’ legislation meaning something done out of rote. Like vacuuming or doing the dishes.
This farm authorization bill has a sister. Its sister’s name is The Debt Ceiling. Later this year I’m going to have plenty of time to write about it. Therefore, I’m not going to get everybody confused and discuss two pieces of legislation in one article. For my followers on Facebook, my friends in Texas that read my articles and post frequently, and My Dear Readers this is the bill I was talking about that would not knock millions off of food stamps. (as well as your truly)
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I will be completely upfront and tell you, My Dear Readers that I’m very happy this bill failed. That it would have taken food off my table. I will be honest, this was the very first reason I would hope that it failed. But something happened, in the United States House of Representatives, this week that’s spelled disaster for this legislation. The floor of the House of Representatives was open for a process of amendments to be added to the farm bill. This is a normal step in the legislative process. Actually this farm bill originated in the United States Senate. It was voted on by a majority of senators if I’m not mistaken 70. And was handed past if you will over to the House of Representatives for approval.
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If it had passed the House of Representatives this bill than of what would’ve gone into the reconciliation [Reconciliation is a legislative process of the United States Senate intended to allow consideration of a budget bill with debate limited to twenty hours under Senate rules.[1] Reconciliation also exists in the United States House of Representatives, but because the House regularly passes rules that constrain debate and amendment, the process has had a less significant impact on that body.] part of the legislative process. Late last week a Senator from Texas said that this process was “secretive” and “done behind closed doors”. Neither statement is anywhere near the truth. The process of reconciliation has been done since the Founding of our Democracy, it occurs under the watchful eyes of the cameras from CSPAN and can be attended by any American that suffers from insomnia. This statement is not only disingenuous, it is offensive.
Later that day Senator McCain (from the floor of the Senate) expressed surprise that the other Senator was unaware the reconciliation process is not secret, anyone who wants to attend a boring meeting can attend, and that CSPAN cameras record all reconciliation meetings.
[This isn’t like me… I have just finished publishing the 3D Mars Report. I am in tremendous pain, but I need to have this up while I just might catch some traffic due to the subject matter. Please excuse that I do not provide links, as I usually do, and will try to research ALL the names and provide linkage just asap. Thank you for your understanding.]
So, what killed the farm bill? I will tell you what killed the farm bill. Radical amendments by French representatives elected from gerrymandered districts. I, like many Democrats, screamed and yelled that one day gerrymandering would bite America and that tookus. That day has now arrived. Let me share the amendments I heard about.
- Felons it would no longer receive food assistance. If you had ever been convicted of, found guilty of, and served your time for a felony of murder rate on child molestation. You would be refused food stamps based on that fact alone. One of the basic tenets of the United States of America is want any man served his time for the crime he’s been convicted and sentenced for he shall not be punished for that crime again. Republicans kicked the Constitution and the cojones and tact an amendment to the farm approach appropriation bill that prevented any felon from America from getting food stamps. (#1056 by Rep. Vitter)[1]
- Urine testing. That’s right and unfunded mandate for the states to run $150 drug tests on every food stamps recipient. Just a little back-story for those that don’t make policy there wonkie obsession. This urine testing has been tried by Michigan, and by Florida in just the past decade. Michigan implemented this policy for one year and it ended up with 8 to 12 pot smokers caught at the cost of nearly $150,000. In Florida this was used for welfare recipients and again you find a handful of pot smokers at the cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars, taxpayer dollars. (Republicans Doug LaMalfa of California and Ted Yoho of Florida)[2]
- Third that I will talk about is a work requirement that is already in place in many states but not universal. In California this work requirement already exists. However, many religious organizations have come together with several civil rights organizations to try and overturn this action in California.
- Defunding portions of Obamacare. (#927 Rep. Heller)[3]
| Ending Food Subsidies for illegal aliens: “To require the use of the systematic alien verification for entitlements program in the administration (#946 Rep. Sessions) of the supplemental nutrition assistance program. (#947 Rep. Sessions) |
- "To amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp…” (#952 Wyden)
- Too eliminate junk food purchases on SNAP (#1000 Rep. Coburn)
- Excluding individuals with “extreme tax debt…” (#1003 Rep. Coburn)
Those are seven of the 103 proposed in just one day. I was reading these there’s an amendment defining what in Indian tribe is. There’s an amendment to expand broadband. There is an amendment limiting the EPA from defining spills uncertain farms. I read through the whole list and I for the life of me cannot think of a Speaker of the House, in the past 50 years that would allow this kind of nonsense. This farm bill became an omnibus bill, a catchall bill, and a nightmare for House Speaker Boehner.
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The United States House of Representatives is proving that it is no longer a functional body. This bill was sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, yet it died a death of 103 cuts. To me this proves that the Speaker of the House of Representatives has no control whatsoever over either party. The 85 tea party backed Republicans are pulling the United States House of Representatives to the extreme right. Moreover, just in an effort to avoid being primaried for 2014, they are tacking to the far far right.
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This spells certain death for any immigration legislation that might make it out of the Senate. House Speaker Boehner can’t even shepherd his own food and farm subsidy legislation through a House of Representatives controlled by his party. To say that Speaker Boehner is superfluous is a gross over estimation of his abilities and a gross underestimation of the tragedy about to befall our great nation. This signals a lack of communication and coordination within the party in control of the House of Representatives. They are the controlling party, the nation rises and falls with their actions, and THIS is the best that Congressional republicans can muster? This is complete and utter failure, My Dear Readers, this is an international embarrassment!
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I hope it all my Republican readers of checked out this article. I hope that all my Republican readers are listening carefully and reading carefully, understanding fully the great many forces that are rending their great party asunder. Because, My Dear Readers, and my Republican readers don’t understand this is a very distinct possibility their party will bring about ruin for our Republic. That’s not partisan Daniel talking, that’s now a reality on every front page of the face of this planet.
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I’d like to say thank you to everyone who’s drop by and read my article. I know you have a lot of places to get your content, news, entertainment and I’m honored that you come here to the other shoe. Have a great weekend!
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