Morning Sentinel
Collins deserves thanks for her efforts on FRESH
Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 12/14/2007

Your editorial from last week (Dec. 7), "Maine's GOP Senators Must Help Farm Bill" was correct that one of the most important things we can do to help hungry people right now is to weigh in with our senators to urge broad reform of the farm bill. However, when we call Sen. Susan Collins' office, we also should be thanking her for her leadership in being a co-sponsor of the FRESH amendment, the only comprehensive reform amendment currently on the table.

FRESH would broaden the agricultural safety net by making a free revenue insurance program available to all farmers. This would save billions of dollars that would be used to invest in nutrition programs, fruit and vegetable (specialty crop) programs, critical conservation efforts and the McGovern-Dole international school feeding program. In addition to fully paying for the nutrition improvements in the Senate bill, FRESH would invest an additional $2.2 billion above the Senate bill in nutrition and anti-hunger programs.

This change would be best for hungry people in the United States and help level the playing field for small-scale and medium-sized farmers like the majority of growers here in Maine.

Collins should be praised for her bold leadership on this politically sensitive issue. Sen. Olympia Snowe should follow her lead.

Jim Hanna

Board member, Bread for the World

Portland

www.bread.org

Bookmark and share this story: digg del.icio.us Reddit


Reader comments

Sort by: Oldest First | Newest first

jimmy of randolph, ME
Dec 14, 2007 5:33 AM
its about time collins did something other than just following bush and the rest of those rat republicans.report abuse
Chris of Harpswell, ME
Dec 14, 2007 2:58 PM
Collins voted against cloture on the Senate amendment to the House Farm bill while Snowe voted for it. There was also an important amendment by Senator Dorgan to increase spending on nutrition programs, beginning farmer program, farmers markets, and agricultural conservation. It was paid for by limiting farmers payments under the commodity payment program to $250,000 per year.

This amendment got 56 votes which was excellent, including Susan Collins, although 60 were needed. However Olympia Snowe voted against this amendment in spite of the fact there must be only a handful of Maine farmers who receive more than $250,000 per year in federal agricultural commodity payments, if any.

Most federal agricultural commodity payments in Maine seem to be to subsidize the growing of corn, even though corn is probably at record high prices. Ethanol production is currently dependent on sugar - like sugar cane and marginally corn.report abuse

You must be a registered user of MaineToday.com to post a comment. Register or log in.

MaineBusiness.com: Maine News Direct  Business Classifieds  Blogs
Arts & Entertainment: Calendar   Movies   Music   Dining
Travel: Maine Regions   Things to Do   Maine Guide   From Away   Vacation Rentals   Lodging Guide   Campgrounds
Outdoors: Biking   Fishing   Hiking   Hunting   Nature Watching   Outdoors with Children   Paddling
Other sections: myMaineToday   Seen   Blogs   Pets   Kids & Family
Classifieds: MaineJobs   Real Estate   Wheels   Marketplace   Celebrations   Place an ad
Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram: News   Sports   Business   Editorials   Nemitz   iHerald   Obituaries   Special Reports   Reader Services
Subscriber Rewards Club  
Kennebec Journal: News   Sports   Obituaries   Opinion   Reader Services
Morning Sentinel: News   Sports   Obituaries   Opinion   Reader Services
Advertising: Advertising products   Audience   Content areas   Service   Contact us
Questions/Comments?
Copyright © 2009, MaineToday Media, Inc.