At a glance: McCain, Obama farm policies
8:37 AM
Posted: Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Major farm policies advanced by presidential rivals John McCain and Barack Obama:
McCAIN
--Opposed a $300 billion farm bill approved by Congress this year over President Bush's veto. Opposes subsidies to divert corn into ethanol production.
--Supports trade expansion through negotiations "to lower trade barriers, decrease trade-distorting subsidies and stabilize an affordable food supply for all nations."
--Calls for "reasonable reforms to our crop insurance program and our system of countercyclical and direct aid payments."
--Would cap subsidies to farmers who have adjusted gross income of $250,000 or more, while providing small farmers with "a reasonable safety net."
--Pledges to press Agriculture Department officials to research drought-resistant and higher-yield crops.
--Supports indexing the food stamp program "to reflect the current cost of living."
--Would provide "marketing tools" for the fruit and vegetable industries.
OBAMA
--Supports the farm bill, though he said he favored tighter payment limits and a ban on ownership of livestock by meatpackers.
--Calls for spending $150 billion over 10 years for alternative energy sources such as solar and wind as well as advanced biofuels.
--Backs a renewable fuels standard that encourages use of ethanol and other advanced biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol produced from switchgrass and wood chips. Wants a goal of producing 2 billion gallons of advanced biofuels by 2013.
--Voted for a measure giving tax breaks to wind energy developments, credited for 45 percent growth in the industry last year. Has set a goal of 25 percent of the nation's electrical production coming from renewable sources by 2025.
--Would require petroleum makers to reduce the carbon content of fuel by 1 percent a year beginning in 2010 through the use of alternative fuels.
--The Associated Press
McCAIN
--Opposed a $300 billion farm bill approved by Congress this year over President Bush's veto. Opposes subsidies to divert corn into ethanol production.
--Supports trade expansion through negotiations "to lower trade barriers, decrease trade-distorting subsidies and stabilize an affordable food supply for all nations."
--Calls for "reasonable reforms to our crop insurance program and our system of countercyclical and direct aid payments."
--Would cap subsidies to farmers who have adjusted gross income of $250,000 or more, while providing small farmers with "a reasonable safety net."
--Pledges to press Agriculture Department officials to research drought-resistant and higher-yield crops.
--Supports indexing the food stamp program "to reflect the current cost of living."
--Would provide "marketing tools" for the fruit and vegetable industries.
OBAMA
--Supports the farm bill, though he said he favored tighter payment limits and a ban on ownership of livestock by meatpackers.
--Calls for spending $150 billion over 10 years for alternative energy sources such as solar and wind as well as advanced biofuels.
--Backs a renewable fuels standard that encourages use of ethanol and other advanced biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol produced from switchgrass and wood chips. Wants a goal of producing 2 billion gallons of advanced biofuels by 2013.
--Voted for a measure giving tax breaks to wind energy developments, credited for 45 percent growth in the industry last year. Has set a goal of 25 percent of the nation's electrical production coming from renewable sources by 2025.
--Would require petroleum makers to reduce the carbon content of fuel by 1 percent a year beginning in 2010 through the use of alternative fuels.
--The Associated Press
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Mr. M wrote on Oct 10, 2008 3:37 PM:
In Soviet Russia, Obama assassinates YOU!! "
coolrepublica wrote on Aug 7, 2008 1:40 AM:
If people in Iowa feel good about being bought for by this bill for their support so Obama then who I'm to judge. But I hope people in Iowa won't judge me for being angry that they support a bill that future generations will have to pay for in order for rich farmers and farming conglomerates like ADT can get unnecessary government subsidies. Angry for having to put sub-par corn ethanol in my car, which reduces my gas mileage and does nothing for the environment. Don't even get me started with increases in food prices.
So the country has to suffer so people in Iowa can continue feeling good about screwing tax U.S taxpayers. "
Mr. Obvious wrote on Aug 6, 2008 9:11 AM: