(Washington, D.C.) - The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, America's largest taxpayer advocacy group, today wrote to members of the Senate to object to the addition of "emergency farm relief" to S. 1233, the fiscal year (FY) 2000 Agriculture Appropriations Act. 

"It is premature to enact 'emergency farm relief' now because most crop harvests are months away, and it is too early to accurately assess the amount of weather-related farm losses," wrote CCAGW President Thomas A. Schatz.  "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be issuing reports in the coming weeks that will provide more accurate assessments of the crop situation."

CCAGW does not wish to see a repeat of the "emergency" agriculture appropriation passed last year, a $6 billion taxpayer handout. Both the Republican-sponsored relief package totaling $7 billion and the Democrat-sponsored package totaling $11 billion are currently in excess of either crop or income loss estimates.  These so-called emergency provisions would undermine reforms of the 1996 Farm Bill.  CCAGW is particularly concerned about provisions that would repeal the minimal reform of the sugar program, increase the peanut subsidy, reinstate the cotton step-2 export program and double the current loan deficiency payment limit. 

CCAGW continues to be concerned, as well, with efforts to include provisions in the legislation that would have the effect of reversing USDA’s federal milk marketing order reform, extend the life of the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact and mandate even higher milk prices.

Schatz also noted that most of the benefits in the emergency packages would go to the wealthiest farmers rather than being targeted to those who are most at risk from either weather–related disasters or low commodity prices.

CCAGW is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.