Baylen Linnekin Says the Farm Bill Stinks
Like a phoenix made of pork, the Farm Bill has risen from the ashes. And for opponents of farm subsidies and wasteful government spending, that's bad news. The most notable change in this year's Farm Bill is the elimination of direct farm subsidies, the multi-billion-dollar handout to mostly wealthy farmers. That's a good thing. But in its place, Congress has substituted taxpayer-subsidized crop insurance. And, writes Baylen Linnekin, the bill taxpayers may foot for crop insurance subsidies—at least $89 billion over ten years—may outweigh what taxpayers would have contributed in direct subsidies.