Following the defeat of the Farm Bill on the House floor today, National Taxpayers Union Director of Federal Affairs Nan Swift said, “today’s Farm Bill failure on the House floor is an important opportunity to improve both the product and the process as negotiations continue in both chambers.
A new report released only today by the Government Accountability Office provides updated information about where farm subsidies are going, with the top 50 farms receiving $888,500 on average and one operation receiving $3.7 million in 2015. The report also demonstrates how complicated partnerships and loopholes allow farm businesses to rake in extra payments. The report makes it clear that taxpayers were right to oppose H.R. 2, which would have expanded these loopholes, permitting millionaires and billionaires to receive payments. This new data should be taken into account by lawmakers.
National Taxpayers Union will continue to press hard for pro-taxpayer reforms that reduce wasteful spending, corporate welfare, and the redistribution of taxpayer funds to those who need them least. As the Senate and House move forward from this vote, we strongly urge legislators to permit a full and open debate of these critical issues.”