Candidates on Issues
Posted: October 1, 2008
The National Corn Growers Association has released the answers it received from the presidential candidates on issues important to agriculture. It is important to note that NCGA is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that does not endorse candidates for any political office but only provides information to grower-members so they can make informed decisions.
That being said, growers should read all of the candidates responses to the issues and make up their minds for themselves. They will find some very stark differences between the two candidates on issues such as the farm bill and ethanol, for example.
On the farm bill, Senator Obama says he supports “a robust safety net that targets assistance appropriately and provides farmers with risk mitigation tools that protect them from weather and market conditions that are beyond their control. This includes traditional farm programs, crop insurance, and disaster assistance.”
Senator McCain supports a risk management program for agriculture that reflects the realities of the global marketplace for food, fuel and fiber in the 21st century. However, he says he “will oppose subsidies, which distort markets, artificially raise prices for consumers, and interfere with America’s ability to negotiate with our international trading partners to the detriment of the entire agriculture community.”
Similarly, McCain’s position on ethanol states, “I do not support the current system of tariffs, subsidies and mandates. Rather, as a country, we must focus on stimulating end-user demand for renewable energy and creating a consistent regulatory and tax framework that encourages investment in research, domestic refining capacity, and distribution systems to promote energy independence.”
Obama on ethanol: “I am a proud supporter of the Renewable Fuels Standard and tax incentives for biofuels. I’ll invest $150 billion over the next ten years in our green energy sector, enhancing farmer profitability, injecting capital into rural economies, and creating up to 5 million new jobs in the process – jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced.”
These positions are likely going to make it a tough choice for Republican farmers this November.
