Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Congressman John Duncan (R-TN) have introduced the Crop Insurance Subsidy Reduction Act (S. 446 and H.R. 943) that would return federal crop insurance premium subsidies to their pre-Agriculture Risk Protection Act (ARPA) levels of 2000.

P. Scott Shearer, Vice President

March 11, 2013

2 Min Read
Reduce Crop Insurance Subsidies

Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Congressman John Duncan (R-TN) have introduced the Crop Insurance Subsidy Reduction Act (S. 446 and H.R. 943) that would return federal crop insurance premium subsidies to their pre-Agriculture Risk Protection Act (ARPA) levels of 2000. Flake said USDA data shows that taxpayers have spent $7.1 billion in 2012 on federal crop and revenue insurance premium subsidies for farmers, up from $1.4 billion in 2000.

 

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Congressman Duncan said, “The crop insurance program has turned into a huge taxpayer-funded boon for some of the biggest, multi-national insurance companies and multi-millionaire farmers.  In a time of record deficits and an incomprehensible $16.5 trillion in debt, this program can no longer be justified in its current form.”  He also said that currently producers pay 34% of the premiums and the federal government pays 66% of the premiums.  Those supporting the legislation include the Environmental Working Group, Club for Growth, Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Campaign for Liberty, Center for Individual Freedom, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Cost of Government Center, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste,  National Taxpayers Union, Taxpayers for Common Sense and Taxpayers Protection Alliance. 

 

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About the Author(s)

P. Scott Shearer

Vice President, Bockorny Group, Inc.

Scott Shearer is vice president of the Bockorny Group Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. With more than 30 years experience in government and corporate relations in state and national arenas, he is recognized as a leader in agricultural trade issues, having served as co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority. Scott was instrumental in the passage of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and TPA. He is past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products and was a member of the USAID Food Security Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Bockorny Group, Scott served as director of national relations for Farmland Industries Inc., as well as USDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (1993-96), serving as liaison for the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA to Congress.

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