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WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Steve King today voted NO on a Farm Bill that was changed at the last minute by Democrat leadership to include a $7 billion tax increase. King had supported the bill through the Agriculture Committee process. But with added tax increases, the strictly partisan, Democrat bill was rammed through the House by a vote of 231-191. The vote was uncommonly narrow for a Farm Bill.
Historically a bi-partisan legislative process, this year’s Farm Bill was marred by an unusual last minute partisanship driven by the Pelosi-led, urban dominated Congress. After the bill passed with bi-partisan support from the committee, Pelosi and her leadership inserted a $7 billion tax increase. The Agriculture committee had reached a bi-partisan consensus against a tax increase, making the tax increase an unwelcome partisan surprise.
“The Farm Bill should be for agriculture, not for tax and spend ideology. In order to increase inner-city benefits by 46%, the Pelosi-led Congress drained payments to farmers. Why would we accept a tax increase and a transfer of resources from rural America to the inner-city? I cannot support a farm bill not designed to support farmers,” stated King.
King voted for a measure, rejected by Democrats 198-223, that would have put forward a farm-centered Farm Bill that would NOT have raised taxes.
Congressman Steve King (R-IA) represents Western Iowa in the United States Congress and sits on the Agriculture, Judiciary and Small Business Committees. He is also Chairman of the innovative Conservative Opportunity Society, founded by Newt Gingrich.
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