About that Farm Bill that Raises Taxes and Puts Jobs at Risk

Tom Blumer and I talked about the implications of the Farm Bill on the TIB All Stars Show on Saturday night. One of the things that we hashed out was that the pieces put out by Republican Leader, my Congressman, and a Great American -- John Boehner -- and his staff didn't exactly spell out what the Democrats are up to and how they are doing it. Surely, Team Boehner got the results of this legislation out there, but Roy Blunt has the best explanation I've seen yet about what this bill really does. Here is the statement from a press release on Friday:

"The Farm Bill emerged from the Agriculture Committee this year with a unanimous vote -- a product of hundreds of hearings, months of exhaustive research, and a bi-partisan commitment to ensuring our agricultural sector remains the envy of the world. It was a bill that took great care to address the needs of American farmers, and because of that, it was a bill I was eager to support. But that wasn't the legislation we voted on this afternoon.

"Instead, Democratic leaders took a seminal piece of farm policy and used it as a vehicle to raise taxes -- both on foreign companies who invest capital in America and create jobs here, and domestic energy producers who explore for natural gas in the deepest waters offshore. In doing that, Democrats turned a bill that would have sailed through this House and grabbed the attention of the Senate into yet another partisan campaign to raise taxes, displace jobs, and render America less competitive abroad.

"Even with that, the bill before us includes a number of good provisions -- provisions that will strengthen the family farm and ensure it remains the backbone of our nation's agricultural economy. As this bill moves on to the Senate, and at some point, comes back to the House, I will continue to support a comprehensive farm policy that recognizes the challenges and importance of modern-day farming, and unlocks new markets for producers in Southwest Missouri and beyond."

It is the final paragraph of the release that is the most effective:

The tax hike included in the newest version of the majority's Farm Bill would raise taxes on foreign companies operating inside the United States, potentially driving millions of American jobs out of the country. These companies employ more than 5.1 million of our citizens, with an average compensation per worker of $63,428 a year.

Emphasis added.

In the video clip below, Republican Whip Blunt is on Fox News w/ Neil Cavuto discussing the Democratic endgame for passing appropriations bills.



Previously on WMD:

Rep. Gillmor: Democrats’ Farm Bill Puts Ohio Jobs at Risk

Boehner Offers Farm Subsidy Reform Amendment to Save Taxpayers $3 Billion

Previously on the Butler County Bugle:

Democrat Job-Killing Tax Could Eliminate 1,200 8th District Jobs

UPDATE: Earlier today, I said this:"

John Boehner -- and his staff didn't exactly spell out what the Democrats are up to and how they are doing it.

...which isn't exactly what I meant. If it weren't for Team Boehner, I'd have not even been aware of this issue. What has been missing from Team Boehner is some sort of narrative like this from the Blunt release:

Instead, Democratic leaders took a seminal piece of farm policy and used it as a vehicle to raise taxes -- both on foreign companies who invest capital in America and create jobs here, and domestic energy producers who explore for natural gas in the deepest waters offshore. In doing that, Democrats turned a bill that would have sailed through this House and grabbed the attention of the Senate into yet another partisan campaign to raise taxes, displace jobs, and render America less competitive abroad.

Emphasis added. Sure, I got it from the Boehner releases that taxes were going to be raised, but I didn't get a clear read on the total impact of who was being hit until Tom and I discussed it on Saturday and then the Blunt release was the first I recall having seen it in print.

At no point did I intend to imply that Team Boehner failed to get the word out. Quite the contrary, actually, without Team Boehner's coverage of this from the beginning it quite likely would not have raised a flag here. The failing is on my part in that I was unable to get the full gist of what Team Boehner was saying until Tom and I chatted the issue on the radio show.