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Subscribe to RSSCertainty – that’s what business owners need in order to invest, expand, and hire workers. That’s the argument Republicans have been using for months to urge President Barack Obama to agree to extend current tax rates for another year.
Now with drought afflicting states from Florida to Wisconsin to Oregon, it is Obama who’s using the “certainty” argument, saying that Congress must “pass a farm bill that not only helps farmers and ranchers respond to these kinds of disasters, but also makes necessary reforms and gives them some certainty year-round.”
Business owners affected by the drought say they understand why farmers are getting so much help and attention, but they want to make sure they don't get left behind. CNBC's Phil LeBeau reports.
The Senate passed its $970 billion farm bill on June 21, but the House hasn’t acted on $958 billion farm legislation passed by the House Agriculture Committee last month.
“Too many Americans are suffering right now to let politics get in the way” of passing a new farm bill, Obama said last Saturday in his radio address. But politics seem inescapable, especially 11 weeks before Election Day.
Obama, who campaigned this week in drought-stricken Iowa, is trying to use the drought as a political lever to get the House to pass its farm legislation and come to terms with the Senate so a final bill could be sent to him for his signature.
That seems unlikely to happen before the current farm bill expires on Sept. 30.
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If the farm bill does expire and if a new one isn’t signed into law, it will not affect crop insurance for farmers. Crop insurance is authorized not through the farm bill, but through a separate law. The most recent five-year agreement between the federal government and the private companies that carry out the farm insurance program was reached in 2010.
But next year growers of corn, soybeans and other crops may need to pay higher premiums for their crop insurance – because a significant loss of crops due to drought or other factors lowers their average production history and that affects premium levels, said Sam Willett, senior director of public policy for the National Corn Growers Association, a group that represents more than 36,000 corn farmers.
Disaster assistance programs for livestock and dairy producers and for growers of specialty crops such as cherries expired on Sept. 30, 2011. The Senate-passed farm bill would reauthorize that disaster assistance money.
Responding to the drought, the House did pass a stand-alone $256 million disaster relief bill to help farmers, ranchers, orchard owners, and nursery tree growers on Aug. 2. The vote was 233 to 197, with 35 Democrats, many from farm states such as Iowa and Indiana, joining 188 Republicans in supporting the bill. But that measure is not a full five-year farm bill.
House Agriculture Committee chairman Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said, “This is not a long-term solution, but it takes care of the problem until we can get a five-year farm bill on the books…. I am committed to giving certainty to our farmers and I plan to work toward that goal when we return in September.”
Grocery stores around the nation may soon see a ripple effect of the drought, with animal-based, perishable foods costs increasing by nearly 5 percent in the coming year. NBC's Janet Shamlian reports
Although the drought and the food stamp program – or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – aren’t directly related to each other, it’s the opposition to SNAP funding levels that is one of the biggest obstacles standing in the way of an accord on a new farm bill. This isn’t surprising since nutrition assistance spending accounts for about 80 percent of the total cost of the farm bill.
Among many congressional Republicans, “There’s substantial concern about the level of nutrition program cuts not being high enough” and “you have the opposite on the Democratic side” – a belief that SNAP was cut too much, said Willett.
The Senate farm bill would reduce outlays for SNAP and other nutrition assistance programs by $4.5 billion over ten years, but would still spend nearly $770 billion on SNAP. The House Agriculture Committee farm bill would reduce SNAP outlays by $16 billion.
The Corn Growers Association supports an effort in the house to get 218 members to sign a discharge petition that would force the Ag Committee’s bill to be brought to the House floor for a vote.
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Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, told NBC’s Chuck Todd on Daily Rundown Wednesday that “the market is adjusting” to the drought conditions and that both his state and the federal government are taking steps to help livestock producers such as allowing grazing on state land and opening conservation reserve lands to grazing.
As the nation's largest corn producer, Iowa has been particularly susceptible to this year's brutal drought. Despite some desperately needed rain last week, more than half the state's corn crops are in "poor" or "very poor" condition. Gov. Terry Branstad discusses.
Explaining the opposition by some Republicans to the farm bill, Branstad said, “The biggest problem I think a lot of people have is a massive expansion of the food stamp program. We have more people on food stamps than ever before; they’ve liberalized the rules, and a lot of people think they need to tighten that up, just like we reformed welfare in the 1990s … .”
It’s not only food stamps – conservative farm state Republicans have an array of complaints about the Obama administration’s policies toward farmers and ranchers. Agriculture Committee member Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R- Kan., issued a statement Wednesday accusing the administration not only of “vastly expanding the food stamps rolls by 45 percent," but of “continuing the regulatory assault on our farms and ranches” and “supporting a huge increase in the death tax at the end year.”
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The current republicans seem to be willing to sacrificed anything and everything for political favor. The house version was passed by the ag committee, which is almost assuredly made up of republicans, but still politics trumps all.
are you kidding?...obozo will say or do anything for a few lousy votes.....
The only thing the republicans really care about is cutting the taxes of the very wealthy. They even let the sequester stand which will cut defense spending rather than let tax rates for the very wealthy increase.
I guess a tax rate of 13% (Mitt Rob-me's rate) is just too much for the wealthy to endure.
Reading is fundamental boys and girls ...... embedded late in the article is a weak begrudging paragraph stating that the House ALREADY passed a disaster relief bill for drought-stricken farmers on Aug 2, 2012. A total of 188 Republicans in the House voted for this bill and only 35 Democrats.
The problem with Obama's demands is twofold:
First, Obama always has other "stuff" crammed into his proposed legislation to increase the cycle of government dependence ..... like an expansion of the FOOD STAMP PROGRAM here, and
Second, with Obama, it is ALWAYS, ALWAYS about pandering for votes to try and make himself look good and get re-elected.
Obama and Biden are so "in touch" with farmers that they don't even know what a "cattle guard" is or what it does.
I would like to Thank the Tea Baggie Faggies for developing John "Bozo" Boner and Eric "bendover" Cantor and the GOP dog and pony show, which has reduced the public approval rating of Congress to 9%, and is helping to assure the re-election of President Obama.
Lets remember:
Paul Ryan’s been a U.S. Congressman for 14 years.
He helped Bush destroy the economy and then helped John “Bozo” Boner and Eric “bendover” Cantor to obstruct any progress to fix it.
Now he’s coming after your Medicare and Social Security to pay for the problems he created.
I would like to know why Food Stamps, which according to this article is 80% of the spending in the farm bill, is even part of a "Farm" bill?
Isn't the "farm" bill supposed to be about helping our farmers and food producers?
Why isn't "Food Stamps" Part of some other appropriations such as "Welfare"?
Strip the "Food Stamps" out of the "farm" bill altogether and make it some other appropriation then they wouldn't be fighting about it in the "Farm" bill.
Dear Tea Baggers and Republicans.....
During your bible studies, when do you & Paul Ryan discuss Jesus throwing the money changers from the Temple? From what I see, you and Mr. Ryan are studying a Bible where the job creating money changers purchased the Temple and appointed the Savior.
That's the problem Tea Baggers and conservatives... I don't know that part of the bible and I also don't know how you'll cut the food stamp budget and also make sure "deserving" poor persons get food?
Perhaps, you can be King Solomon a few days each week meeting the needy as they wait in line for your judgement of goodness? And, at the end of that time, you might possibly reflect upon God's pending judgement of you for each and every one of those decisions.
It's mighty tough to be the hand of God without paving your own path to damnation.
Jim with all due respect, any bill introduced by either Party will be loaded with crap that has no relation to the actual bill. Thats why nothing passes! Its the new game, call a Bill "Feed the Homeless act" and load it up with Defense spending or "Employ Our Veterans" Loaded up with free rent for minorities.
OLD HAT!
I suggest you educate yourself about Ryan's plans and make your decision based on that and not left wing talking points and insults.
You should compare them to the Democrats plans and see who you think has better plans.
Ask yourself "If they had any substance to their posts why do they need to resort to name calling, insulting, and disrespecting the opposition?".
Can't their arguments stand on their own merit?
mcpaddywack= Again!!!!
it is better to have people THINK you are an idiot, then to open your mouth and remove all doughts. SO WHY in heavens sake do you keep putting your own feet in your mouth!
When Ryan was interviewed on Fox News and asked about the impact of his budget, he said he "hadn't run the numbers". LOL!!
Ryan is a life long Washington insider air head with nothing to show except a horrible, never-to-be-implemented budget plan.
Factor in marching in lock step to the Republican homophobia and repression of women's reproductive rights, he's a sad excuse of a human being.
**********************************
Romney/Ryan Medicare plan = Voucher / Groupon
Romney/Ryan Social Security plan = puts your money in the stock market (Jeesh...)
Romney/Ryan budget plan = same old GOP smoke and mirrors.
GOP has NEVER had a balanced budget EVER. Ryan plan might balance budget after 28 YEARS !! Gimme a break.
Reagan bailed out Chrysler in the 1980's - he was no fiscal conservative - he just played one on TV!
Is that what Faux Noize, Beckerhead, Fatbo, Boortz and Lush is saying now??
Do you have any links to substantiate what you have written as "Opinion" Backstabber?
I'm not some gullible ideologue that just takes what someone says at face value. I don't vote based on political talking points and opinions of "Bloggers".
If your not going to prove your statements are accurate with substantiation, I will give them the Merit they deserve, which is none.
Why should there be a farm bill? Judging by the waist size of the average American, it's not exactly like we're suffering a food shortage. If the goal of this is just to subsidize the losses of a few farmers, then I say tough-shít. They had a bad year and they need to deal with it. Why should the rest of us be on the hook for their losses?
No, it's the fault of the do-nothing-congress under the control of GOP the Party of NO,
....having nothing to do with election year. Remember 1964, election year, Civil Rights Act was enacted...to make America a better place.
We aren't. The article already stated that the Crop insurance was renewed in 2010.
Also considering that 80% of the spending in a "FARM" bill is for "FOOD STAMPS" is Obama's push to get a "Farm" bill passed really about helping Farmers or getting those food stamp allocations?
Ever single person in congress who "hid" from voting on bills(yes I remember that little fiasco) should be in jail or booted from their position for life! Everyone can say gop this dem that....THEY ARE ALL LITTLE CHILDREN and need to be put on time out....
Well, when Obama wrote the ACA, perhaps he should have opted for extra taxes on McDonalds and fried chicken rather than tanning salons. Unfortunately he opted not to for obvious reasons.
Backstabber, now that I know you are an outright liar (Reps have balanced a budget under Clinton), I can ignore you as nothing you say is useful.
For those of you that will vote Republican, just think about how the GOP is treating YOU RIGHT NOW. This is just a sample of what is coming if you elect them.
THEY DO NOT CARE.
So in other words, yes we are on the hook. Why is the government even in the business of insurance? These farmers should be purchasing swaps and other instruments to hedge against crop losses from AIG or the handful of other BBs that could offer the service.
How are they treating me right now? Well currently, they've just saved taxpayers like myself close to 1 trillion dollars that would either be going to deadbeats living off food stamps or to subsidize the financial losses of a few farmers. Sounds OK to me...............
Farm bill, disaster relief...just two more smoke screens to deflect attention away from the real issue...you know, the one that people really care about, and Obama has failed miserably at...."It's the economy, stupid"!
Maybe, if the Party of No hadn't had 38 mock votes against Obamacare, the Farm Bill would have been discussed.
Shame, shame, shame, Party of No.
I want to understand the big picture. What about now? Who is going to pay for all of this? The Senate has yet to pass a budget for this fiscal year and the fiscal year is almost over. Without conditions to include any act of congress, the President promised that the 2012 federal deficit will not exceed 229.27 billion dollars yet it has already gone over that by over a factor of 4. The President has yet to reveal the magic trick that he will use to keep his promise. Since the President is against deficit spending and wants to pay down the debt the 2013 deficit should be even much lower than the 229.27 billion dollar limit that the President promised for this year. The congress should not take action that will jeopardise the President's keeping his promise and makes him look bad.
The President needs to be reminded of some words of wisdom that were spoken back in March of 2006. The words were as true then as they are today.
"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America 's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that, "the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."
~ Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006
Tom...not everyone on foodstamps is a deadbeat and it's a pretty ignorant point of view for you to have anyway. I'm getting real sick of this "welfare deadbeat" hatred bullsh*t. A lot of hard working people are on food stamps because the corporate Gods you pray to refuse to pay a living wage.
You want to villify those who don't want to work, fine, but don't you fuc*ing dare act like you're better than those on food stamps. Many who are have worked harder than you ever will.
There needs to be a new law passed that says that any bills presented in congress must be for a single purpose only. What has caused so much trouble with getting anything done is the penchant for attaching legislation that is completely unpopular and would have no chance of passing on its own to other far more popular and needed legislation. This practice is what creates the stalemates and results in nothing getting done. This bill is a prime example. SNAP, or food stamps, has nothing to do with farm aid. These should be two separate bills that are debated and negotiated separately, they should not be lumped together in one package. Both parties do this, but the Democrats have raised it to new levels. They attach these unpopular hand out measures to needed legislation and then tr and claim that it is the do nothing Republicans stopping them (the democrats) from helping the farmers or whoever/whatever else the title of the bill says it is supposed to be about. This nonsense needs to stop. Legislation should be about a single purpose without all these added on riders and provisions that are completely unrelated. These riders are often give aways to special interest groups that would never in a million years pass muster on their own. They are attached to popular legislation that is so sorely needed that these give aways are allowed to go through despite strong opposition in the name of getting the main bill passed. Enough is enough!!!
I'll vilify anyone I want, especially if I'm helping to financially support them due to their own laziness, lack of skills or some combination of the two. If they don't like it, they can stop suckling at the government teat and learn to be a little more self-sufficient.
I'm not on either side of this argument, but doesn't farming come with a risk and isn't the price balanced with supply and demand?
Some years it's boom and some bust, right?
Not only are the Republicans for dirty air and water, but they also cause the weather to be hot! Now they are trying to starve us! This is uncalled for!
Wow, the REPUBLICANS only work at holding America hostage Imagine if Romney becomes President by some sort of miracle, they will truly be Romneyhood and his band of merry outlaws !!!!!!!!!!
While it is true that there are many on Welfare and Food stamps who are truly in need are you not willing to admit that their are people in these programs that don't need to be and are gaming the system?
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/04/local/la-me-welfare-20101004
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Welfare-fraud-investigators-raid-1-2-mil-Lake-2341224.php
http://dailycaller.com/2012/04/21/massachusetts-welfare-fraud-mini-mart-owner-skimmed-30k-per-month/
Has the thought ever occured to you that maybe the federal government will be more responsible with our money when they have less of it to spend?
This also raises the Question of why should any one have their taxes increased, so the Federal Government can piss it away?
How about all the GSA parties , the ninth circuit court going to Hawaii for a conference, etc. that are costing us millions?
Here's a really radical Thought. Fix the Government first before asking anyone to give more so we can at least be confident its not going to be pissed away.
This was me in the 60's...I'm the guy hideing my face as the woman consoled me. I was stoned and was camera shy!
Tree hugging moonbats
crying over trees - YouTube
What's wrong with taking advantage of legal tax breaks/loopholes? I take advantage of the mortgage interest deduction tax break - does that make me evil?
If a business doesn't take advantage of these breaks they will fail because their competitors will take advantage of them. Keep in mind, when businesses fail, people lose their jobs - which hits the poor and middle class the hardest because they don't have the resources of the rich.
Hey Radcliff4 I was going to go to the daily beast but then I saw later were you called me an idiot.
Now I really don't give a crap what you have to say.
Good Job!
Jim-145...
Thanks for pointing out that the house did pass a short term bill and give it to the senate until a long term senate/house agreement could be reconciled.
It does look though that the lefty posters here still want to blame the right for reids penchant for tabling anything passing in the house, even when it is bipartisan.
-------------------------------------
Kevinoffsite...
Be whatever it may be, congressional bills and their contents can be accessed online for their content.
Rather than just assuming that congress is addressing "business as usual" in generating bills beyond the bills intent why not verify that assumption and report?
Regardless, with the senate 5 year version and house 5 year version being off by tens of billions of dollars, congresses august recess and congressional gridlock I really doubt that a 5 year farm bill can be reconciled and signed by the september deadline.
Heck, look how long it took for the house and senate to agree on a FY 2011 budget. A budget plan that should have been signed off on prior to october 2010 when the democrats controlled both houses.
I would say that the BIPARTISAN passed house bills for both a 5 year plan and a backup bill for the short term means that the house has done its due diligence legislatively to meet the september deadline.
Reaper, I agree with you... Tom you're a useless a$$hole!
...So the Maples joined a union,,,and demanded equal rights
they say the Oaks are much too lofty, and they grab up all the light!
Think Romney or Ryan ever worked on a farm? Think they ever worked hard enough to ever break a sweat? Lets make them bail hay for a day, from the crack of dawn till dusk, and see if they could earn an honest dollar!
Hey, Gary, keep spewing the hatred of anybody who makes/has more than you do...Obama is proud of you!
The House PASSED a bill that would avert disaster, and because it isn't a 5 year bill the MSNBC writers twist this into the Senate having passed a bloated 5 year bill?
You dems are so desperate it's pathetic. Not a single moderate voter will buy this constant twisting of facts to support your lies.
The only thing good about this bald faced lie by MSNBC is that they have now made it clear that they are a hyper-partisan group of hack writers.
They all but ignore the assassin from the LGBT community attacking the Family Research Council and failing, while writing this flat out lie of an article, trying to prop up the dismal failure that is Obama / Reid, and are willing to sacrifice millions of Americans to serve their greed. Disgusting.
Obama - 1 and done.
LOL....EVERYTHING Mr. Obama has touched during his 3 1/2 years in office has brought noting but UNCERTAINLY throughout the United States on ALL domestic and Internatial fronts which has resulted in a STAGNANT economy, increase unemployment rates, and higher deficits.
So, it looks like Mr. Obama is wanting to make "necessary reforms and gives them (FARMERS) some certainty year-round" which means: pay the farmers whether they grow wheat and corn during the Winter months or "option out" of growing crops and still receive taxpayer dollars.
Question: How can you tell when the Liberals love Mr. Obama more ?
Answer: When he gives out more "Obama Bucks" and does not require them to work for a living.
Romney-Ryan 2012 to take America back from the radicals.
With all the waste fraud and abuse at the GSA, there is no doubt the congress should rush through another massive long term farm bill that will almost guarantee more waste from Washington. Obama said he was going to clean up Washington, change the way they do business, and he failed. So why not just make another massive waste of money an election year issue and continue the long tradition of screwing the taxpayers whenever possible.
Don't you think it's entirely possible that these things are related to the economy?
Democrats want to end oil subsidies...but we can't do that because it will cause
oil profits to go downgas prices to go up.Libertarians now want to end the ethanol subsidy because high corn prices cause oil prices to go up...and yet, by reducing the ethanol requirement, more oil will be required to make gasoline, hence higher
profitsprices.So, we have the option of subsidizing the farmers who are struggling through a natural disaster...or reward the Saudis who get billions anyway.
It looks like you would rather support terrorists in the Middle East than support Patriots in the Midwest.
spider-737231 supports terrorists against America!!!!
ALL states with Republican ran governments should by virtue of their political philosophy decline any federal disaster relief.
The main holding point in the bill is SNAP. We are tired of Obama of bleeding us dry just for the Damn Illegals. 90% of the expansion of snap goes toward the illegals in this country.Let them go back to their own country to be supported.
And Jeff by your way of thinking I support no disaster relief for California since its economic disaster was caused by Liberals over spending.
Why is it that only Democrats and Liberals have the tenacity to think for themselves? Hey spider? Try thinking for yourself instead of letting Limbaugh, fox or the GOP paying stink tanks to do that for you.
hey obozo?.......if your farm bill passes will it start raining?.......this @!$%# is ridiculous....ROMNEY!
Obama has:
Signed the NDAA bill into law allowing the assassination of any us citizen without trial
Allowed 30,000 Spy drones to be flown over American skies
Sued States he was sworn to protect.
Obama has signed over 1000 Executive Orders since he took office (Thanks to that, it's now illegal to collect rain water)
Obama has killed hundreds of innocent people (including 3 Americans) with drone strikes he has ordered in Pakistan And Yemen.
Obama has raised the National debt Nearly $5 TRILLION.
Obama care: Health Care will provided to all non us citizens (including illegals), your health care will be rationed, other things.
Obama by-passed congress to enable the Dream Act allowing 1 Million ILLEGAL aliens to become legal citizens (thanks to those he allowed to become citizens, they have committed 19 murders and 142 sex crimes)
Lied About all of His 2008 Campaign Promises Including the One Where He said he campaigned in 57 states.
Google Search "Dreams from my REAL father" and you'll see, Obama's father was a failed communist who's dream was to DESTROY America, at age 18, Obama went to a MARXIST school.
I'm not a Mitt Romney supporter either.
F6Zman, just another example of silliness going off topic (your post)... and the right holding hostage an important bill to take care of their rich buddies...
NDAA is a bipartisan bill (Levin & McCain) that has no provision for assisnation. It legalizes the practice that the previous administration practiced.
The FAA has yet to clear the use of drones, but who cares anyway. The Border Patrol already uses them. I can hear the "slippery slope" dopes chiming in soon.
The 1,000 executive orders? That vast majority of those deal with things like Dept. of Agriculture's process for agency hieerarchy/replacements.
Gee, civilians are dying in a war. Who would have thought THAT would happen.
I'll give you the debt, but without getting into a debate.
ACA covering illegals? Lie
Dream Act allowing criminals to become citizens? Lie
The 57 stae mis-step is just too silly to address (desperate actually)...
You may not be a Ro9mney supporter, but you're out there swallowing a pile of poopie, that's for sure...
Your dad must have did bad things to you F6Zman!! Your mind is screwed up!!
So you are saying that Obama did not say he campaigned in all 57 states? He did you can find it quoted all over.
Chip, the 57 state fiasco was not a mis-step, it is an indication of how little our President knows and understands out the country he wishes to lead. If he cannot remember that there are fifty states he could have said he campaigned in all states and been safe, but no, he voluntarily stuck his foot in his mouth and made himself look even more stupid than he really is. Obama is merely a talking head for the DNC and has no real ideas of his own.
Wow, the REPUBLICANS only work at holding America hostage Imagine if Romney becomes President by some sort of miracle, they will truly be Romneyhood and his band of merry outlaws !!!!!!!!!! This is some scum bags politicians, they don't work unless they can destroy America, is this what you people want, when I first heard the GOP called the Taliban I thought it was just a joke, but now I know it's true! Anyone that hides their income can't be trusted, and I hate to say this but Romney is the one hiding his money, sure is not OBAMA. ****** OBAMA 2012 ******
Radcliffe, jennas boobs aside, why do you care who endorses who? Just look at some of the fools that endorse obama, some of them are probably also porn stars.
Actually romney did say what he wanted to do, he wanted to fix the American economy for everyone.
Amazing that obama couldn't maintain any type of focus on the economy after the 2009 stimulas was passed (which did little for the private sector).
Even after the democrat shellacking in the midterms he ignored his own bipartisan debt commission with an inadequate FY 2012 budget proposal.
He then told the newly elected republican controlled house to create a FY 2011 budget because his own party couldn't create one prior to oct 2010.
Who can forget the silence we heard from obama on his own jobs commision panel recomendations and how obamas 2nd job stimulas plan was just a revisited 2009 stimulas plan with the only main difference being that now SS would be given more government IOU's.
Interesting also on how obama also ignored S&P's credit dongrade warning, guess he thought that it wasn't the job of the POTUS to create unity going forward.
Yep, I'll take a chance on the romney version of "hope and change" in 2013 over obama rhetoric. The best thing about the romney ticket is if he can't deliver a better recovery and national unity than obama is that he will be one and done in 2016 as well.
Neal: There are 57 states in the Muslim world.
Instead of freaking out about President Obama saying that there are "57 states" you might want to actually do a teeny bit of research.
You see, there are 57 states and territories.
It is a little frightening that you do not seem to know that, but you do know that there are:
Working Background: Mitt Romney
After high school, he spent 30 months in France as a Mormon missionary.
After going to both Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School simultaneously, he passed the Michigan bar exam, but never worked as an attorney.
In 1984, he co-founded Bain Capital a private equity investment firm, one of the largest such firms in the United States .
In 1994, he ran for Senator of Massachusetts and lost to Ted Kennedy.
He was President and CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
In 2002, he was elected Governor of the State of Massachusetts where he eliminated a 1.5 billion deficit.
Some Interesting Facts about Romney:
Bain Capital, starting with one small office supply store in Massachusetts , turned it into Staples; now over 2,000 stores employing 90,000 people.
Bain Capital also worked to perform the same kinds of business miracles again and again, with companies like Domino's, Sealy, Brookstone, Weather Channel, Burger King, Warner Music Group, Dollarama, Home Depot Supply and many others.
He was an unpaid volunteer campaign worker for his dad's gubernatorial campaign 1 year.
He was an unpaid intern in his dad's governor's office for eight years.
He was an unpaid bishop and state president of his church for ten years.
He was an unpaid President of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for three years.
He took no salary and was the unpaid Governor of Massachusetts for four years.
He gave his entire inheritance from his father to charity.
Mitt Romney is one of the wealthiest self-made men in our country but has given more back to its citizens in terms of money, service and time than most men.
And in 2011 Mitt Romney gave over $4 million to charity, almost 19% of his income.... Just for comparison purposes, Obama gave 1% and Joe Biden gave $300 or .0013%.
Funny, I just never considered giving money to my church as giving money to "charity". After all I benefit so much from the church, it feels more like giving to a religious organization that I am a part of as opposed to giving to organizations formed strictly to help others.
Silver, you benefit from your church? There's a first.
Honesty 101,
All this may be true but the left will still complain because he is rich and did not pay all the taxes they think he should have. Nevermind that he did alot of good with his money. They think he should have given it to the government so they could have waisted it on a number of pet projects. I think the government should rethink how food stamps are done. Most all of these people on food stamps eat much better than I do. They are sure given lots more to spend on food than what is in my budget. I do not qualify for food stamps.
Wow, the REPUBLICANS only work at holding America hostage Imagine if Romney becomes President by some sort of miracle, they will truly be Romneyhood and his band of merry outlaws !!!!!!!!!! This is some scum bags politicians, they don't work unless they can destroy America, is this what you people want, when I first heard the GOP called the Taliban I thought it was just a joke, but now I know it's true! Anyone that hides their income can't be trusted, and I hate to say this but Romney is the one hiding his money, sure is not OBAMA. ****** OBAMA 2012 ******
Hard work, independent thought, personal responsibility. These are the things liberals want to eliminate.
Dependence on the state for food, work and thought is their goal. Watch the movie 1984. The state represents the collective minds of all the people so it is infallible. Yeah right.
That's the mentality we are fighting against.
Did Romneyhood destroy Massachusetts when he was governor?
Quite the opposite. Let's judge Romney by his displayed leadership, and judge Obama by his lack of it.
Where did you come up with your info ??? radcliff4
What no answer Radcliffe 4 ?? come on I'am sure CNN can give you their source right ??
oh wait breaking news obama has to pay back 10 million in back taxes. It was found late Thursday that Mr obama had not paid taxes for 10 years prior to 2007 more on this breaking new when we make it up oh I mean when we get it.
You can look up Romney's Tyler Foundation and see what they contributed to - like Boston based - Pediatrics MS hospital, The Catholic Schools Foundation - Scholarships - Cancer Centers and MS research. Radcliffe 4 needs to read other sources.
Once again PORK standing in the way of help for the farmers that really need it.
This is Obama and his campaign trying to push more giveaway programs through with needed help for farmers. Then he blaims republicans for the hold up.
Down_South, that's because it IS the Republicans. Are you blind????
It's all partisan politics. Neither side is willing to give anything unless they get something return.
down south- When you are in need of help, you ask, but the repo's, have been denying help to our country. So far I have heard nothing of the demo's wanting anything back, BUT I've heard of the repo's wanting, to get rid of SS,medicare, before thay will help. Kill health care and thay will help. Vote romney/ryon and thay will help give more to the rich, by taking from farmers,women,elderly, and the poor, then thay will help. So who is asking for something in return?
ANSWER= The republican communist party, that who!
Well we see how the education systen Down_south needs help!!
Melvin, the farm bill is stalled because of the rider attached for the expansion of food stamps. That is what the dems want as a trade off. Expand food stamps or no farm bill. And pissedoff, there's no response to your ignorance, just STFU moron.
And furthermore Melvin, the republicans aren't trying to do away with SS and Medicare (quit watching Hardball), they are trying to fix the programs so that our children and grandchildren will still have them.
Worthless,
How appropriate is your name. Did you read the article, there is no expansion of food stamps, the Senate would cut 4.5B from food stamps, the house would cut 16B, no expansion, only cuts. Meanwhile, thanks to the Republican depression, there are more food stamp recipients, but of course the poor folk receiving them don't deserve a damn thing, but the billionaires and defense contractors deserve whatever pork they can lay their hands on. There is no response to the nastiness and misplaced priorities being put out there by the obstructionists. The Republicks have short memories, if it were up to them, 2030 will look more like 1930 which might be what they've had in mind all along. Their real agenda involves chains.
Pat in socal...
Thanks for your complete lack of ability in connecting the dots about the causes of the 2007/2008 recession. Now, how about connectiing the dots for obamas lack of knowhow in kick starting an economic recovery or even in unifying the country to move forward?
BTW - my monitor says that the handle is "worthlesslibs" not "worthless", no wonder why you have trouble connecting dots.
american with numbers;
So Mr. Obama failed to kick start the economy? So you follow Romney's idea of tax cuts and deep cuts to spending. That will just do the trick?
We need to have a new bill for drought relief submitted without the SNAP portion. Then make the Dems vote up or down on drought relief by itself. Of course, the Dems want to tie a $50 billion program that they did everything (including commercials encouraging people to sign up for food stamps) to the drought relief. It is ashamed that the media will not blame the Dems for the delay.
A lot of military families and elderly depend on food stamps. I guess House Repubs think servicemen can steal c-rations and elderly can eat dog food.......
They are not a concern to the GOP!
Obama eats dog food, no wait, that was real dog.
Sonmanvb...who gives a sh*t? Several cultures eat dog and horse and snake...since we don't do so here that makes us superior to other cultures? C'mon. And you're seriously saying you wouldn't try dog?
Bluecat, that's not what the expansion of food stamps is for. Obama wants food stamps for illegals. Obama is infringing on the rights of military personel by trying to limit their ability to vote. If you read through these MSN blogs you will see that it's the liberals that are bad mouthing the military. Be careful, there are those that will smile in your face while stabbing you in the back.
worthless, he is NOT trying to infringe on the voting rights of the military.
The republican controlled state changed the law to not allow early voting for everyone. Please explain what the reasoning for that was (could it be politics)? The administration is trying to get them to appeal that law and return early voting to ALL PEOPLE including military personnel.
He does not want food stamps for illegals.
Wanting to cut the defense budget, wanting to end the war and not start another one is not bad mouthing the military.
Both parents hard working parents rely on food stamps. Bad things happen to bad people and people who are making every effort possible to get by. But hell, they're not big campaign donors so forget it...
Perhaps if Obama hadn't taken money from the food stamp program (back in 2010) to give to teacher's unions he wouldn't need to add more now.
Another trillion dollar slap to the tax payer???!!! Funny how selective the government is about picking winners and losers. The dems are so proud of "saving" the car industry. Really? No fed ever stood up to save my industry when it contracted. Three layoffs later, I still have not paid off the pain of surviving. How come farmers' needs and auto workers' needs are worthy and mine are not? I suppose they are just using my tax dollars to buy votes. Shame on them all.
Don't forget the bankers needs. This is not a partisan thing...both parties have thrown our money at their favorite industries.
What? No bitching from the reich about all those welfared up red state farmers passing the bills on to their children and grandchildren...listen up farmers...if you are too stupid to buy insurance to cover your business losses it does not make it my problem...I don't care where my food comes from...as longs as its cheap
I think farmers need to learn to be better marketers. Lets all raise crops we can store and not sell them until we can sell them for a profit. As soon as more people start starving because there is no more food then that should get someones attention. Better yet lets only sell to people who will not sell any food to anyone who is in the government unless they pay triple. Lets starve them out.
A vote for romney/ryon will seal the death of farmers. Thay don't eat vegies in their salids, thay eat 20. 00 bills. their, milk, comes a robot cow,and it would complete the sale of the US, to china by Romney. Thay sold us to the lowest bidder, and now refuse to help the farmers, in time of need. AND THAY WANT THE WHITEHOUSE? How about giving them the outhouse instead.
America is hurting, and in need of congress's help, but the republicans, are refusing to help! Thay are now emkarked in witch hunts, a sceem gone rempted, just because our president is a person of color. The white repo's were insenced by the faxt that a white man lost, that thay will not do anything to help America! I am so angery for their ways, that I am going out of my way to push, that thay be removed from the memory of the US.
That's because congress has betrayed america and is letting the EU and the UN dictate the policies of america. The nations of the world are out to destroy america, they hate america, that's why they send their debauchery to this country. Vote the bums out, vote out any international politician who pretends to be for the USA but actually are agents of the enemies of america, again, they're goal is to turn america into the nations harlot. Down with the nations who do such a thing, may God pour out His rightous indignation upon those politicians who hate america and only want her for her money. "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evils". If you're not from this country, LEAVE and take you're corrupt countries policies with you, you tyrannts, no wonder the original founders left europe. I would have too. Now just leave, you're not wanted here, there's a reason, they left you in the first place.
Truly the only country that is always in our politics is Israel... I would agree get this blood sucking country off our back and out of our wallet would be a great step forward. Now with that said, thanks to the GOP and their White Robed SCOTUS China and other countries can filter in tons of $$$$ and hide from public view to influence our elections... they want republicans in the house and head of the table to keep unbalanced trade policies in place keeping American labor at a disadvantage to their use of child and slave labor.
sp�ca�P�converted-space> of whom this capital goes too included in the bill. Small farmers MUST and CAN compete with large corporations if we help them...they cannot if Mega corporations receive Billions with B they in turn use directly against small farmers. Keep in mind folks that if we continue to loose the family farm then we will be at the mercy of large corporations to eat... That is what happened in medical and we all know how well that turned out.
We all need to learn to help ourselves. Whoever depends on government will be sadly disapointed in the end. Only the few lucky close supporters of either party will truly benifit.
6448092, Congress betrayed the country by letting the EU and UN dictate ?!? Read the news !!! That's the work of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. That's been her mission.
Hurry Mr. President and spew some more or your crap to get more votes. I live in a very rural farming area and you aint getting these folks vote!
Rural all-white areas don't like Obama. We get it. And not just because you're racist. Your racism has nothing to do with it. You just don't like him. We get it, crazy uncle dogs.
Hey Captain Hummers, great use of the race card. Learned your lessions well
Capt. Ham, rural areas simply dislike Democrats who are more interested in "helping" the inner cities full of tax takers and Democrat voters. Keeping the food supply safe and stable? Not so much. Nothing to do with racism, you knee-jerk Liberal.
HAHAHAHA where did the race come into the comment there Capt. Hum???? That's right it didn't...Not till YOU brought it up....
Besides, ethnicity is NOT everything...race race race...is that ALL you care about??? I for one will be paying attention to what BOTH sides are supporting and what each are planning to do with this country of ours.....But I guess If I don't vote for Obama that makes me racist...right? Oh Well....
You get what you vote for. Don't cry when the policies of the corrupt politicians don't work and lead many astray, then they'll be crying, when it would have already been too late.
Great News Today!!
With the Ryan Pick Mittens chance of winning moved up to a solid 29.1% !!! Woohoo!!!! Yes!!! Moving on up!!!
lololololololololololololololololol
Obama needs to get his Food Stamps at the cost of the hard working farmer or rual land owner. 70% of the farm bill is for the food stamps appropriation.
But this is precisely when both sides try to make the most political points, including the speaker, Obama. Both sides use crises as a lever to implement their agendas.
Yeah, whose theme song was "Don't let a good crisis go to waste" when he entered office?
Lies of the GOP & Paul Ryan TeaWackers, Mitt R. Bain, Citizens United and all the Alec corps ( WALMART ): that pay off the Politician. Its all about the Wealthy getting richer and the middle class getting poorer.....They don't want to help the poor...Who are the one's that leach off the taxpayer. The Wealthy: they get welfare both for themselves an for the Corps. ...But it seems that the Wealthy get away with it ..They steal billions and the few poor steals a few thousands. So what does the GOP want, is Screw the MIddle Class to get even with the few. As I say its the me me me and F everyone else.... The failures of the Republicans party trying to take away SS & Medicare & Health care for Woman so they can give their wealthy Blackmailers more money...To hell with the Poor and Needy. Let them freeze in the winter and stave the Old and Babies,let them die from bad water, do away with the EPA and thats what you'll have, just like all you Tea baggers want...You make me sick with your Me Me Me altitude. Greedy and you all call yourself a REAL Christians, Mormans. What a laugh: Wake up...Sounds like Mitt!!!!!!Fuss up your tax Return.....
Personally, I’m all for supporting our farmers... Family farmers that is. The big problem however and where I move in different directions that republicans is that I'm NOT for helping large Corporations that have destroyed family farming. Big corporations can and should live on their own. Ma and Pa farmer need real help and money to improve their equipment and upgrade their processes without attachments to being required to buy X amount of fertilizers etc. Republican bills drive Billions into the hands of Con Agra and other industrial food production corporations and in turn pass back large sums of money into the GOP political process. This is wasteful and harming... I'm all for a 5 year bill for small family operations with ZERO going to corporations and tax shelters of the wealthy. There MUST be a definition of whom this capital goes too included in the bill. Small farmers MUST and CAN compete with large corporations if we help them...they cannot if Mega corporations receive Billions with B they in turn use directly against small farmers. Keep in mind folks that if we continue to loose the family farm then we will be at the mercy of large corporations to eat... That is what happened in medical and we all know how well that turned out.
AZLlib...
Why not ask all those family farmers why they sold out to the corporate farms then? Seems like you are barking up the wrong tree.
It's beginning to look like Obama is beginning to run out or wiggle room.
America has grown tired of his same-ole blame game.
He's Covering for Joe Biden's racist remarks in Danville, Va.
They Gone Put Yall back in Chains.
THEY GONE PUT YALL- - - It seems Joe thinks that's the lingo southern black people use in Danville.
(They gone put) --- pidgin grammar ???
(They gone put yall) --- makes it southern i guess.
(They gone put yall back in chains) --- an attempt to relate to blacks.
This hocky puck is just a heart beat away.
Why are they giving aid to the corporate farmers who are insured against such losses?
I really want to see them remove the Monsanto riders to this bill before it passes.
It's too bad the press does such a lousy job of covering the contents of legislation. They should be focusing on content and fact checking politicians claims, but instead they reduce it to the simple and emotional where possible.
It is really too bad that Obama refuses to keep his promise to put legislation on the web so that all can see the idiotic nature of Congressional Politics. Put is on the web, pass the bill as is with no mods and the American people might raise your approval rating up from the toilet. This was the one promise of Obama's that I was really looking forward to as it would, in essence, negate all the rest of his promises.
I see the special interest group Monsato is the devil again!
The "death tax" is an insult. Farmers work all their lives thinking to pass the farm on and those that inherit it cannot afford the tax. How stupid. I wonder if our ethanol production will be up this year...another waste of tax dollars and another reason for high prices.
So ... How many politicians can you buy with a bag of corn?
the GNOP refuses to help anyone that does not have enough zeros on their income. Politics and the last two years of Boehner and Ryan in the house is killing America one day at a time. I hope with just 11 weeks to go people are finally seeing that the GNOP cares more about Party ideology and the Koch Bros than they do about Mom and Pop America.
It's been really popular lately to scream about socialism, funny though people in Germany, France and Great Britain claim that their way of life is much better. During the Olympics British people on the streets were interviewed and all that were asked said that GB takes care of it's citizens and people are generally happy, in America people stress and struggle about basic necessities.
Most of them enjoy a month of vacation a year, they have plenty of time for themselves and they do not worry about medical bills forcing them into bankruptcy or deciding when you become elderly if you are going to buy food or prescription meds. Not that I am marketing for socialism but it sounds nice to have the government that we pay for giving back to the very people that supports it.
I don't care WHAT Obama passes through the white house. Even if he gives me a million dollars, I'm not voting for him again.
OK, maybe that's an over statement. If he did, I would, but he won't, so I ain't LOL